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.
As the host of UTV’s Kelly show for 17 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.
One of his most famous interviews was with an eight-year-old Rory McIlroy as the young golfer chipped balls into a washing machine.
Over the years he fronted a string of popular UTV programmes including Lifestyle, Kelly’s People, Kelly on Tour and Kelly on the Road.
UTV Head of News and Programmes Simon Clemison described Kelly as “one of Northern Ireland’s best known and much-loved broadcasters”.
He said the Kelly show became a “must-watch’ on Friday nights, featuring some of the biggest names in entertainment”.
“Gerry Kelly was back on UTV just a couple of years ago fronting The Kelly Years, a series reflecting on the hundreds of stars from the world of film, television, music and sport who had come through our studio doors.”
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.
Kelly’s former colleague Anne Hailes paid tribute to him on social media, calling him a “big man who will leave big memories, RIP”.
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.”
Another UTV colleague and former presenter Mike Nesbitt said Kelly was “always a star but he refused to act like one”.
“His genius was the ability to interview you as if he was just being curious, but actually he had researched you… he knew exactly where he wanted to take you,” said Nesbitt, the current health minister.
‘Friday nights meant Kelly on the telly’
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”.
Comedian Paddy Raff posted a tribute to Kelly on social media, describing his interviews with the broadcaster as a “career highlight”.
“Friday nights meant Kelly on the telly. I grew up watching him interview some of the biggest names but still being just like one of yer da’s mates, he had such down to earth charm.”
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.
The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Jon Burrows, said he “grew up watching the Kelly Show”.
“We have lost so many TV greats recently, but we are enriched for their presence in our lives for so many years.”
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