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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 programmes | Award-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". | 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. | "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." | "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." | 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". | 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." |
| SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan said: "Gerry Anderson earned a special standing with his wit, warmth, his way with words and his off-the-cuff, on-the-button observations." | |
| He added: "Derry has lost a very special son, an unceremonious ambassador, and broadcasting has lost a limited edition of one." |