Veteran DJ Jimmy Young dies aged 95

DJ Jimmy YoungDJ Jimmy Young
DJ Jimmy Young
Broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young has died at the age of 95.

The long-serving DJ, who spent almost three decades at BBC Radio 2, died "peacefully at home" on Monday afternoon with his wife Alicia by his side, a family spokesman said.

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Sir Jimmy began his BBC career on the Light programme, which was rebranded Radio 2 in 1967, the same year Radio 1 launched.

He went on to fill Radio 2's early afternoon slot until 2002.

Before becoming a presenter on the airwaves, Sir Jimmy had a number of hit pop singles during the 1950s, including a cover of the Nat King Cole song Too Young.

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Tributes have been pouring in for the presenter, who was born Leslie Ronald Young in 1921.

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."

Sir Jimmy's former Radio 2 colleague Ken Bruce tweeted: "So very sad to hear about the death of my old friend Sir Jimmy Young. One of the most able broadcasters I ever worked with."

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The Queen was said to be among the millions who tuned in to his Radio 2 show.

Sir Jimmy interviewed every prime minister from Alec Douglas-Home to Tony Blair - with Baroness Thatcher a guest 14 times.

Sir Jimmy's working life began as a clerk for a minister of education and a manager of a hair salon before he achieved his dream of getting a career in entertainment.

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The broadcaster left the BBC after more than 30 years behind the desk after he was replaced in a revamp at the station to attract younger viewers by new controller Jim Moir.

Sir Jimmy made no secret of the fact it was not his choice to leave, and a motion was even put down in Parliament to keep him on.

But he made up with the BBC in later years, hosting a one-off special for his 90th birthday.

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The Light Programme, where Sir Jimmy began his career, was broadcast simultaneously on Radio 2 and Radio 1 from 1967, making Sir Jimmy one of Radio 1's original DJs.

Fellow broadcaster Tony Blackburn said in a statement: "Jimmy was a legendary broadcaster, there at the very start of Radio 1 and then, for so long, the voice of Radio 2.

"2016 has been a terrible year for losing iconic figures from our youth. Today we lost another."