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Gerry Anderson: Broadcaster dies after long illness Gerry Anderson: Broadcaster dies after long illness
(35 minutes later)
Gerry Anderson, one of Northern Ireland's best-known presenters, has died aged 69 following a long illness.Gerry Anderson, one of Northern Ireland's best-known presenters, has died aged 69 following a long illness.
In a career spanning 30 years, he hosted radio and TV programmes for BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Radio 4.In a career spanning 30 years, he hosted radio and TV programmes for BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Radio 4.
He has been described as a "true legend of the industry" by the director of BBC Northern Ireland, Peter Johnston.He has been described as a "true legend of the industry" by the director of BBC Northern Ireland, Peter Johnston.
He said he was a "man of great wit and mischief" who would be sadly missed by his BBC colleagues and loyal listeners.He said he was a "man of great wit and mischief" who would be sadly missed by his BBC colleagues and loyal listeners.
Gerry Anderson started working as a radio presenter in 1984 and went on to become a household name in Northern Ireland.Gerry Anderson started working as a radio presenter in 1984 and went on to become a household name in Northern Ireland.
Award-winning programmesAward-winning programmes
He began his broadcasting career with BBC Radio Foyle in his native Londonderry, a place he famously renamed Stroke City.He began his broadcasting career with BBC Radio Foyle in his native Londonderry, a place he famously renamed Stroke City.
His show was picked by BBC Radio Ulster, and he formed a successful on-air partnership with fellow broadcaster, Séan Coyle.His show was picked by BBC Radio Ulster, and he formed a successful on-air partnership with fellow broadcaster, Séan Coyle.
The pair's comic bickering and banter became a constant feature of their morning phone-in show.The pair's comic bickering and banter became a constant feature of their morning phone-in show.
Anderson also made a number of TV series and documentaries for BBC Northern Ireland, and had a brief spell in London as a presenter on BBC Radio Four.Anderson also made a number of TV series and documentaries for BBC Northern Ireland, and had a brief spell in London as a presenter on BBC Radio Four.
His Radio Four show received hostile reviews and marked a low-point for the presenter both personally and professionally, however, he continued to make award-winning programmes for BBC Northern Ireland.His Radio Four show received hostile reviews and marked a low-point for the presenter both personally and professionally, however, he continued to make award-winning programmes for BBC Northern Ireland.
'Light on dark days''Light on dark days'
He was named as the Best Regional Presenter at the Royal Television Society journalism awards in 2004.He was named as the Best Regional Presenter at the Royal Television Society journalism awards in 2004.
The following year, he received the ultimate accolade for his services to broadcasting when he was inducted into the UK Radio Hall of Fame.The following year, he received the ultimate accolade for his services to broadcasting when he was inducted into the UK Radio Hall of Fame.
His daily programme on BBC Radio Ulster attracted dedicated fans but almost two years ago, he stopped broadcasting because of illness.His daily programme on BBC Radio Ulster attracted dedicated fans but almost two years ago, he stopped broadcasting because of illness.
After his death was announced, Mr Johnston said: "This is a day of great sadness for everyone at Radio Foyle, Radio Ulster and BBC Northern Ireland, and of course our thoughts are with Gerry's wife and family.After his death was announced, Mr Johnston said: "This is a day of great sadness for everyone at Radio Foyle, Radio Ulster and BBC Northern Ireland, and of course our thoughts are with Gerry's wife and family.
"Gerry was a man of great wit and mischief, but he also brought great wisdom and insight to what he did."Gerry was a man of great wit and mischief, but he also brought great wisdom and insight to what he did.
"Of course, he'll be sadly missed by all of us, but also by all his loyal listeners, for whom he often brought light on dark days over the decades."Of course, he'll be sadly missed by all of us, but also by all his loyal listeners, for whom he often brought light on dark days over the decades.
"I had the great pleasure of being in London on the occasion when Gerry was awarded the Hall of Fame for the UK Radio Academy, which just demonstrated what a true legend of the industry he was, a really significant figure."I had the great pleasure of being in London on the occasion when Gerry was awarded the Hall of Fame for the UK Radio Academy, which just demonstrated what a true legend of the industry he was, a really significant figure.
"I think in Gerry's case - it's often said lightly but in his case truly, I don't think we'll ever see his like again.""I think in Gerry's case - it's often said lightly but in his case truly, I don't think we'll ever see his like again."
'Heart and soul''Heart and soul'
His friend and fellow broadcaster, Gerry Kelly, said: "We here in the BBC and Radio Ulster were just expecting Gerry to come back at some stage.His friend and fellow broadcaster, Gerry Kelly, said: "We here in the BBC and Radio Ulster were just expecting Gerry to come back at some stage.
"He wanted privacy throughout his illness and we granted him his privacy.""He wanted privacy throughout his illness and we granted him his privacy."
Mr Kelly said he was "one of the most innovative and clever broadcasters" he had ever known and would be sorely missed.Mr Kelly said he was "one of the most innovative and clever broadcasters" he had ever known and would be sorely missed.
Mickey Bradley, a former member of The Undertones who worked with the late broadcaster in BBC Radio Foyle said Gerry Anderson "broke the mould".
"He was very funny off-air as he was on-air," Mr Bradley said.
"Every morning he was never in the studio earlier than two minutes before the programme started and, of course, many times he was late for his own show."
Mr Bradley added: "His roots were in Derry, but because it was a working-class sense of humour he connected with people in Belfast really well."
He described him as a "very kind and supportive man".
Another former colleague, broadcaster Joe Mahon, said Gerry Anderson the broadcaster was different from the quiet, "reserved" man he remembers, away from the microphone.Another former colleague, broadcaster Joe Mahon, said Gerry Anderson the broadcaster was different from the quiet, "reserved" man he remembers, away from the microphone.
"He had a public persona certainly, and that was performance," Mr Mahon said."He had a public persona certainly, and that was performance," Mr Mahon said.
"He put his heart and soul into it, but he also kept an awful lot of himself to himself and to his family.""He put his heart and soul into it, but he also kept an awful lot of himself to himself and to his family."
'Compulsive listening''Compulsive listening'
Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, described him as a "fantastic broadcaster" and a "star of Irish radio".Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, described him as a "fantastic broadcaster" and a "star of Irish radio".
Mr McGuinness, who grew up in the same city, added that he was "very proud that he came from Derry".Mr McGuinness, who grew up in the same city, added that he was "very proud that he came from Derry".
"He was recognised throughout the island as a unique broadcaster - someone who brought his own inimitable style to the radio and obviously his programme was compulsive listening for many of us who had to travel to Belfast every morning.""He was recognised throughout the island as a unique broadcaster - someone who brought his own inimitable style to the radio and obviously his programme was compulsive listening for many of us who had to travel to Belfast every morning."