Former Radio 1 DJ and Live Aid presenter Andy Kershaw dies aged 66

Andy Kershaw, the former BBC Radio 1 DJ and Live Aid presenter, has died at the age of 66. His family confirmed his passing following a cancer diagnosis announced earlier this year, which had left him unable to walk. Kershaw was renowned for his 15-year tenure at Radio 1 from 1985 to 2000, where he championed world music and gained a reputation for his eclectic taste. He also reported for BBC Radio 4 on both music and significant global conflicts, including the 1994 Rwanda Genocide and the civil war in Sierra Leone. Born in Rochdale in 1959, Kershaw began his broadcasting career in the early 1980s at Radio Aire in Leeds before joining the BBC. He first gained prominence as the presenter of the TV rock programme The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1984 and was one of the BBC’s presenters for the landmark Live Aid concert in 1985. That same year, he joined Radio 1, where he was seen as a potential successor to the legendary DJ John Peel. His sister, Liz Kershaw, also worked at Radio 1 during part of his tenure. Kershaw’s late-night show was discontinued in 2000 amid a schedule reshuffle, but he continued to contribute to BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3, exploring global music scenes and political issues through his reporting. Kershaw’s career was marked by both professional acclaim and personal challenges. He faced legal troubles in the late 2000s related to restraining order breaches, resulting in brief imprisonment. Despite these setbacks, he returned to BBC radio in 2011 with the series Music Planet, which documented his travels to remote locations in search of unique musical traditions. That year, he also published his autobiography, No Off Switch, reflecting on his life and career. Kershaw’s legacy remains tied to his pioneering role in bringing world music to a wider audience and his commitment to storytelling through sound.