"Legendary" talk show host Jerry Springer has died at the age of 79, his family have sadly confirmed.
The star was best known for fronting The Jerry Springer Show in the US from 1991 until 2018. Prior to his broadcasting career, which included stints as a political reporter and commentator, he was the mayor of Cincinnati in the US state of Ohio and a political campaign adviser to Robert F. Kennedy.
Jene Galvin, a spokesperson for Jerry's family, said in a statement: "Jerry's ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried, whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word. He's irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humour will live on."
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The statement added that the star died peacefully at his home in Chicago following a brief illness, and family also confirmed that Jerry had been recently diagnosed with cancer. Moving to the US at the age of four in 1949, Jerry initially grew up in East Finchley, London, after being born in a station on the London Underground while it was in use as a bomb shelter during World War II.
Jerry made several appearances on British TV over the years, starting off temporarily co-hosting This Morning alongside Judy Finnegan in 1999. That same year he went on to make 12 episodes of a UK version of The Jerry Springer Show with ITV, and also fronted two series of Late Night with Jerry Springer on Channel 5.
In 2016, Jerry covered the 2016 US presidential election for Good Morning Britain, and guest hosted three episodes of The One Show with Alex Jones. He also appeared on The Friday Night Project, The Wright Stuff and Have I Got News For You.
Tributes have poured in for the star on social media following the news of his death, with many fans in the US reflecting on the part he had played in their childhoods. One person wrote: "RIP Jerry Springer. He was there every sick day growing up."
And another fan similarly said: "RIP Jerry Springer - thank you for giving 90s kids something to watch when we stayed home sick from school."
"RIP Jerry Springer. He kept me and my brother glued to the telly as kids," someone else said in a tribute on Twitter.
And a fourth person simply said: "RIP Jerry Springer - the man that entertained the world."
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