BBC Radio 2 breakfast star dead as tributes paid to ‘piranha of the airwaves’

Brian Hayes, a star of BBC and LBC, has announced his passing after a long, distinguished career that spanned five decades.

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Everything you need to know about the passing of radio personality Brian Hayes…

• Former BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host Brian Hayes passed away, according to information released today.
• The much-loved presenter, who worked for LBC, Radio 5 Live, Capital and fronted Radio 2’s breakfast show for a year before being replaced by Terry Wogan, had died aged 87.
• He was credited with in transforming the genre of call-in radio starting in the 1970s. LBC’s James O’Brien said today: “If he didn’t invent the genre of radio that we all attempt to provide you with every day, then he certainly revolutionised it.”
• Clive Bull, a talk radio personality, continued, “I should point out that he wasn’t a shock jock.” It was primarily about analyzing and asking questions about people’s arguments. But that actually changed phone-ins because it was just “Have your say” before that.
• TalkTV presenter Mark Dolan said Brian was known as the “piranha of the airwaves” adding that he “reinvented the phone-in format in the UK – with stunning success”.
• Iain Dale, a radio personality for LBC, said, “I can honestly say that without Brian Hayes, my career would not have been as successful.” He was a true inspiration.
• Born in Australia, in 1937, Hayes moved to the UK in the 1970s and helped to launch Capital Radio, working first as a producer and then a presenter. He became famous on LBC as its phone-in host starting in 1976.
• He hosted weekly phone-in show Hayes Over Britain on Radio 2 throughout the 90s and won a Gold Sony Radio Award for Best Phone-In. He also sat in for station legend Jimmy Young and the man who replaced him, Jeremy Vine.
• Former Radio 2 presenter Brian Hayes passed away, according to Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2. Our listeners adored him a lot. At this difficult time, we extend our condolences to his family.
• READ THE FULL STORY: Legendary BBC Radio 2 presenter with reputation for ruffling feathers dies as tributes flood in