The music world is mourning the loss of Andy Kershaw, the influential BBC Radio 1 presenter known for his passionate and diverse musical curation, who has died at age 66. His family confirmed he passed away on the evening of April 16, 2026.
Kershaw's career began in the early 1980s at Radio Aire in Leeds before he joined the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test in 1984. His breakthrough moment came the following year when he was selected as a BBC presenter for the historic Live Aid broadcast.
"He had real passion for music. R.I.P," shared one fan on social media, echoing widespread sentiment.
Beyond music broadcasting, Kershaw established himself as a serious journalist, reporting from conflict zones including the 1994 Rwanda genocide and the Sierra Leone civil war in 2001. He also produced pioneering radio diaries from North Korea, among the first programmes recorded from the isolated nation.
Joining Radio 1 in 1985, Kershaw hosted a weekly late-night show for 15 years, often viewed as the natural successor to John Peel. His programming celebrated both emerging UK talent and lesser-known non-western artists, reflecting his eclectic tastes.
"Andy Kershaw ex Radio 1 DJ has died brilliant broadcaster whom apart from spinning Records made some outstanding pieces for Radio 4," another tribute noted.
After his Radio 1 show ended in 2000, he continued reporting for BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3. He faced personal challenges in the mid-2000s, including legal issues, but returned to the BBC in 2011 to co-host Music Planet, traveling to remote locations to discover musical talent.
Kershaw remained active creatively, publishing his autobiography No Off Switch and launching a podcast in 2021 featuring new artists he admired. In January 2026, he revealed a cancer diagnosis that left him unable to walk, but maintained his characteristic humor, joking he was "determined not to die before Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Ant 'n' Dec."
Fans and colleagues remembered him as a broadcaster who "brought the world to our ears through his passion for music" and left "a lasting mark on music broadcasting and journalism."