Henry Kelly, who presented TV shows such as Going for Gold and Game for a Laugh, has died aged 78.
The beloved Irish presenter’s family said he “died peacefully” on Tuesday “after a period of ill health”.
“Henry will be sorely missed by his friends and family, including his partner Karolyn Shindler, their son Alexander, Henry’s daughter Siobhan and her mother Marjorie,” they said in a statement.
Kelly started out as a journalist in Ireland in the 1970s, covering the start of civil unrest and The Troubles in Northern Ireland, before deciding aged 34 to present entertainment shows.
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The broadcaster became a household name when he co-hosted Game for a Laugh from 1981 until 1983.
In June 1983, he became the host of Good Morning Britain's Saturday edition with Toni Arthur.
Kelly presented Going for Gold, the beloved lunchtime quiz show, on BBC One from 1987 until 1996.
He later turned to radio hosting, becoming one of the launch presenters of Classic FM and fronting shows on LBC and BBC Radio London.
Kelly was born on April 17, 1946 in Athlone, County Westmeath in Ireland and graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in English in 1968.
He worked as a journalist with The Irish Times, before moving to its Belfast-based Northern Editor in 1970.
He wrote the book, How Stormont Fell, published in 1972, about his time working in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
More recently, Kelly appeared as a quiz show host in the final two episodes of Victoria Wood’s comedy series, dinnerladies, in 2000.
He became friends with Wood after working on her show, Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV, in the 1980s.
He hosting the mid-morning show on BBC Radio Berkshire from 2005 and presented a Saturday mid-morning show for the station until 2015.
Kelly also occasionally appeared on Sky News to review the Sunday morning newspapers.
He lived for much of his life in the UK, residing in Hampstead, north London, with his journalist wife.
Following news of his passing, Mark Dolan, the host of The Mark Dolan Show said in a tribute: “The amazing Henry Kelly has died. I met him as a child, when I got my first glimpse of live radio, whilst he was at LBC in Gough Square. He was generous, funny, clever & wise.
“And very strict about how his Guinness was poured! RIP total legend”.
Meanwhile fans paid tribute to veteran broadcaster with one writing on X: “RIP Henry Kelly. You didn’t just go for gold, you were gold.”
“R.I.P Henry Kelly! You were a true gent,” another penned.
A third shared: “Ah RIP Henry Kelly Loved Going For Gold on the the BBC whenever I wanted a sick day from school Prime lunch time TV viewing“.
