The veteran broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young has died “peacefully at home”, aged 95.
A spokesman for the former Radio 2 DJ said his wife Alicia was by his side when he passed away on Monday afternoon.
In a radio broadcasting career spanning almost 30 years, Sir Jimmy became known as the “housewives’ choice” and counted prime ministers and the Queen among his many millions of faithful listeners.
The presenter interviewed every PM since Harold Macmillan, with Baroness Thatcher a guest no fewer than 14 times.
And he was known as much for his singing talents as for his radio broadcasting, making it to the top of the charts in 1954 with The Man From Laramie, and again in 1955 with Unchained Melody.
He was born Leslie Ronald Young in 1921, the only child of a miner in Cinderford, Gloucestershire.
His love of music came from his mother who taught him to play the piano at the age of seven, and he went on to become a choirboy at Gloucester Cathedral before winning a scholarship to East Green Grammar School.
But his parents could not afford for him to continue his education and he left school to become a baker’s boy.
He spent time working as a Minister of Education clerk and managed a hair salon, but had already set his heart on a career in broadcasting and entertainment.
While singing and playing piano on the club circuit he landed a record deal in 1949 after being spotted by a producer before going on to help launch Radio 1 in 1967.
He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1979 and a knighthood in 2002.
Sir Cliff Richard said: “My first memory of Jimmy Young was as a singer. As a teenager I bought his records Unchained Melody and The Man From Laramie.
“The fact that he could switch from pop star of his time to a top radio presenter speaks highly of his ability to succeed regardless of what he chose to do. He was a great ambassador for our musical profession. We will miss him.”
Sir Jimmy Young presented Radio 2’s lunchtime show for nearly 30 years, joining the station in 1973 and continuing until his retirement in late 2002.
BBC Director-General Tony Hall said: “Sir Jimmy Young defined Radio 2 and was a true broadcasting pioneer. He will be dearly missed by his many fans.”
Radio 2’s current lunchtime show presenter Jeremy Vine said: “Jimmy Young was one of the most important figures in Radio 2’s history.
“He understood that listeners were central to the lunchtime show, he brought them on board, and he ensured that politicians were held accountable in a way that was firm but always polite.
“His achievement was his staying power – to still be doing ten hours of live radio a week at the age of 82 was nothing short of remarkable.”
LBC radio presenter Iain Dale tweeted: “Much respect to Sir Jimmy Young … the word ‘legend’ is overused, but not in his case. A true icon of radio.”
Heart radio presenter Simon Beale tweeted: “Very sad to hear about Sir Jimmy Young. I had the privilege to record a 1-hour special with him in 2003. He was funny, charming & kind.”
Broadcaster and presenter Richard Madeley tweeted: “Huge respect to Jimmy Young; sharp-as-a-tack interviewer who delivered killer questions with the deftness of a class spin-bowler. RIP, Jim.” (skynews)
