Who was Colin Berry? Former BBC radio presenter dies at 79

Former BBC Radio 2 newsreader and presenter Colin Berry died at 79, as per the corporation. For 25 years, Berry was known as the man who read out the UK's voting decision at the Eurovision Song Contest until 2002.

Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, paid tribute to Berry, saying,

"All of us at Radio 2 were saddened to hear of the passing of Colin Berry, who was part of our on air family for many years. We send our condolences to his family and friends."

Berry started his career on pirate station Radio Caroline in 1965, before he began working with BBC Radio Medway, HTV in Cardiff, and Radio 1. He then moved to Radio 2. Berry was the station's first overnight host when they first began their 24-hour broadcasts in 1979, with a programme that covered a what's on guide and cookery show "for those of our listeners who get home late and feel like a snack."

Berry also presented the long-running BBC music programme, Top of the Pops, and appeared on the game show, Blankety Blank, and on Going Live! Berry was a presenter of Night Ride, The Late Show, Music Through Midnight, The Early Show, Happy Hour, and the Hogmanay Special before he left Radio 2 in 2012.

Colin's daughter Marina was a member of the girl group Miss Fitz, who were one of the six competing acts in Eurovision: Your Country Needs You in 2010. The group didn't make it past the first round.

The last time Colin was heard on air was in 2017, when he covered for Richard Spendlove's long-running music and phone-in show on BBC local radio.

More tributes pour in for Colin Berry

After news of Colin Berry's death made headlines, several of his colleagues and people who worked in the radio industry took to social media to pay him a tribute.

Bauer Radio's Luke Davies took to X saying,

"Extremely sad to hear of the passing of Colin Berry. He was a real pioneer of broadcasting and had such a lovely relaxing voice."

Former Radio 2 presenter, Andrew Peach, said,

"I am very sad to hear news of Colin Berry's passing. I have strong memories of hearing Colin on @bbcradio as a child and it was a thrill to get to work with him there from 1998-2012."

BBC Radio 2 newsreader Clare Ruacres said,

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"Sad to say a former colleague and fellow BBC Radio 2 newsreader Colin Berry has died aged 79. He also spent 25 years as the UK's Eurovision jury spokesman."

Berry worked at the BBC for more than 30 years.

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