Broadcaster Gerry Kelly dies aged 77
Broadcaster Gerry Kelly dies aged 77
Sun, July 26, 2026 at 3:56 PM UTC
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Gerry Kelly at the Ulster Tatler awards in 2010
Former television and radio presenter Gerry Kelly has died at the age of 77.
The journalist and broadcaster died at his home on Sunday morning.
Kelly, whose presenting career spanned four decades, is perhaps best known for his weekly talk show on UTV from 1989 until 2005.
He also hosted a weekly programme on BBC Radio Ulster from 2009, and recently delivered a new chat show series with students at Belfast Met.
Gerry Kelly with Blue Lights actors Nathan Braniff and Sian Brooke in 2025 on Conversations with Gerry Kelly
As the host of UTV's Kelly show for more than 15 years, the veteran presenter interviewed a wide range of stars from country legend Garth Brooks to footballer George Best.
It was a show that attracted high-profile guests from television, music, politics and sport.
Over the years he fronted a string of popular UTV programmes including Lifestyle, Kelly's People, Kelly on Tour and Kelly on the Road.
Gerry Kelly pictured with country rock musician Garth Brooks in 1998
Kelly joined BBC Radio Ulster in April 2009, presenting a weekly Saturday show and in January 2014 he also started presenting a Friday afternoon programme.
He took a step back from the Friday slot in October 2019 and continued with his Saturday programme until later that year.
In 2019, he presented the BBC NI television documentary Links to the Past: Pioneers of Ulster Golf.
Emma Dunseith, Head of Content Production at BBC Northern Ireland, described Kelly as "an exceptional broadcaster and journalist".
"He made a valued contribution to the BBC and leaves an impressive broadcasting legacy. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."
In December 2022, Kelly joined forces with other veteran journalists to team up with Belfast Met students to bring Tonight with Gerry Kelly to television for a run of eight episodes.
Recorded in front of a live audience for NVTV, the 45-minute show featured music and interviews with guests from the world of music, entertainment and showbiz including Boyzone's Keith Duffy, Louis Walsh and Brian Kennedy.
At the launch, Kelly said it was a "delight for us all to be able to pass on our many years of broadcasting experience to the next generation of TV, radio and film makers".
Tributes to broadcasting 'colossus'
Tributes have been paid to Kelly from across the world of broadcasting.
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Kelly's former colleague Anne Hailes paid tribute to him on social media, calling him a "big man who will leave big memories, RIP".
Gerry Kelly and Karl McGuckin perform at Gerry Kelly's outside broadcast from The Ulster Hall, Belfast as part of BBC Music Day in Northern Ireland in 2015
Adrian Logan, who was a colleague of Kelly's at UTV, described him as a "larger-than-life character".
"He was a colossus in UTV," Adrian said.
"Everybody in the place just loved him. He treated everybody fairly and equally, he was such a good fella."
Logan said that the man many knew from TV was the same off screen.
"I will remember Gerry just the way he appeared on the screen because that was him.
"There were no airs or graces with him."
Kelly presented the BBC NI television documentary Links to the Past: Pioneers of Ulster Golf
Kelly joined BBC Radio Ulster in April 2009
BBC presenter Ralph McLean said Kelly was "a natural broadcaster, great family man and always a gentleman".
"He made it all look so easy... always a sign of class."
Musician Peter Corry also paid tribute to Kelly, who he described as a "good friend".
"Very sad to hear that Gerry Kelly has passed away," he said.
"He was a big champion of mine in the early days of my career. His weekly TV show was so important for entertainment in NI and to performers here."
Broadcaster George Jones said he was "so sad" to hear of Kelly's death, adding that he was a "great friend".
Posting on social media, Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly said Kelly had "a face and a voice that so many generations across Northern Ireland were familiar with".
"A much-loved presenter with a huge character," she said.
"He interviewed so many, many hundreds of people across decades including his famous clip with a young Rory McIlroy and the wash machine!"
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
