Andy Kershaw was a British broadcaster, radio DJ, and music journalist known for his eclectic taste and passionate championing of world music. He gained public attention as one of the BBC’s television presenters for Live Aid in 1985 and as a long-time host on BBC Radio 1.
Quick Facts
Full Name: Andrew Kershaw
Age: 66 (born 1959; died 16 April 2026)
Nationality: British
Occupation: Radio DJ, Television Presenter, Journalist
Known For: BBC Radio 1 (1985–2000), Live Aid presenter, The Old Grey Whistle Test
Marital Status: Partnered (Juliette Banner, separated)
Children: Yes (two: Sonny and Dolly)
Early Life and Background
Kershaw was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, in 1959. He developed a passion for music early, reportedly sneaking out of an economics exam in high school to attend a Bob Dylan concert. He studied at Leeds University before beginning his career in radio.
Career and Achievements
Kershaw began his broadcasting career in the early 1980s at Radio Aire in Leeds as a promotions manager. In 1984, while working as a roadie and driver for performer Billy Bragg, he was spotted and hired to anchor the BBC’s flagship rock programme, The Old Grey Whistle Test.
In 1985, he co-presented the BBC’s television coverage of Live Aid, the historic benefit concert for Ethiopian famine relief. That same summer, he joined BBC Radio 1, where he was viewed as a potential successor to the legendary John Peel. His weekly late-night show ran for 15 years until 2000, featuring sessions by artists such as Willie Nelson and Lou Reed.
After leaving Radio 1, Kershaw reported for BBC Radio 4, covering both music and global conflicts including the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He also worked for BBC Radio 3, traveled to North Korea for radio diaries, and in 2011 published his autobiography, No Off Switch. Later in his career, he launched his own podcast.
Major Event or Controversy
Kershaw had well-documented personal problems following the breakdown of his 17-year relationship with Juliette Banner. He was jailed in 2008 for three months for breaking a restraining order and later received a suspended sentence for again breaching the order.
Why he is in the News
Kershaw died on 16 April 2026 at age 66, eight months after being diagnosed with cancer. Doctors discovered tumours in his spine in August 2025, which left him unable to walk, and he had been undergoing treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. His death was announced by his family on 17 April 2026.
Conclusion
Andy Kershaw was a distinctive and influential broadcasting voice who brought world music and adventurous programming to British radio. Despite personal struggles in his later years, he is remembered for his fearless journalism, his eclectic musical passion, and his memorable role in one of the biggest live music events in history.
