Andy Kershaw, 66, dies after cancer battle
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- Andy Kershaw died at age 66 after undergoing cancer treatment, ending a career that spanned over three decades at the BBC.
- Andy Kershaw introduced world music to BBC Radio 1 listeners, championing artists from Malawi, the Congo, South Africa and beyond.
- Andy Kershaw co‑hosted the Wembley Live Aid concert in 1985 and presented the Whistle Test on BBC Two, helping shape music television.
- Andy Kershaw produced and presented Radio 3 documentaries such as "Songs of the Hermit Kingdom" (North Korea), "Iran – Axis of Evil" and "Christmas in Ashgabat".
- Andy Kershaw reported for the BBC on humanitarian crises, covering the Rwandan genocide, civil wars in Angola and Sierra Leone, and political unrest in Haiti.
- Andy Kershaw faced legal and personal turmoil after a 2006 breakup, including a restraining order, multiple jailings and a period of homelessness.
- Andy Kershaw is survived by his children Sonny and Dolly and his sister Liz, who also enjoyed a long‑running BBC DJ career.
Why it matters: His death removes a singular voice that brought non‑Western music and frontline journalism to mainstream British radio, depriving listeners of his cultural bridge‑building. The BBC loses a veteran who shaped its world‑music programming, while his family and fans mourn the loss of a distinctive broadcaster.
