This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28809837
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Gerry Anderson: Broadcaster dies after long illness | Gerry Anderson: Broadcaster dies after long illness |
(34 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. |
BBC Director General Tony Hall said he was a "distinctive and iconic voice". | BBC Director General Tony Hall said he was a "distinctive and iconic voice". |
"That he was inducted into the UK Radio Academy Hall of Fame speaks volumes of how special and unique a broadcaster and personality he was," he said. | "That he was inducted into the UK Radio Academy Hall of Fame speaks volumes of how special and unique a broadcaster and personality he was," he said. |
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. |
Irish country singer Daniel O'Donnell, a frequent guest on the programme and the subject of many Coyle impersonations, said his family had lost a "very, very incredible person". | |
"I got to know Gerry very early in my career," he said. | |
"Somebody told me, 'your record was on the radio and the man playing the record put a rooster on just after you'd started to sing'. From there on the banter began. | |
"There's a great sadness in Gerry's passing, Isn't it strange that there's a smile on everybody's tribute to him. There's a laugh with the sadness." | |
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. |
Describing him as a "true legend of the industry", the director of BBC Northern Ireland, Peter Johnston said he was a "man of great wit and mischief" who would be sadly missed by his BBC colleagues and loyal listeners. | Describing him as a "true legend of the industry", the director of BBC Northern Ireland, Peter Johnston said he was a "man of great wit and mischief" who would be sadly missed by his BBC colleagues and loyal listeners. |
"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," he 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," he said. |
"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 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: "He one of the most innovative and clever broadcasters" he had ever known and would be sorely missed. | His friend and fellow broadcaster, Gerry Kelly, said: "He one of the most innovative and clever broadcasters" he had ever known and would be sorely missed. |
Mickey Bradley, a 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." |
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." |