Radio One DJ Andy Kershaw has revealed he is battling cancer that has left him ‘unable to walk’
The DJ and presenter, 66, said doctors discovered tumours in his spine last August.
He joked: ‘I am in good spirits, feeling very positive and planning another podcast.
‘I am determined not to die before Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Ant’n’Dec. That should keep me going for a while.
Andy has been undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and physiotherapy.
Radio One DJ Andy Kershaw, 66, has revealed he is battling cancer that has left him ‘unable to walk’ – doctors discovered tumours in his spine last August
Andy’s career began at Radio Aire in Leeds, where he worked as a promotions manager
Andy’s close friend, Peter Everett, said the radio star has been facing serious health struggles since his diagnosis.
He said: ‘My friend Andy has been going through a difficult time. Last August he was diagnosed with cancer, mainly affecting his spine and making him unable to walk.
‘Since then he has been undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, physiotherapy and a lot of scans and painkillers.
‘Although we’ve not been able to put together any podcasts in the last six months, we are very grateful to all the patrons and supporters who have stuck with us.’
Andy’s career began at Radio Aire, where he worked as a promotions manager and went onto give Carol Vorderman her first job.
He presented the BBC TV’s flagship rock programme, The Old Grey Whistle Test from 1984 and went onto co-present the BBC’s television coverage of Live Aid.
He was later hired by Radio 1 as a successor to the late DJ John Peel.
Andy travelled the world extensively covering conflicts and music and was a regular contributor to Radio 4 and reported on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.
His older sister, Liz Kershaw, 67, is one of the longest serving female national radio DJs in the UK, having been on the radio for more than 30 years.
Andy Kershaw and ex partner, restaurateur, Juliette Banner were together for 17 years and have two children together called Sonny and Dolly – the couple split in 2006 (pictured in 2004)
Andy gave TV presenter Carol Vorderman her first job
In 2022, she spoke about how the BBC had ‘done her a favour’ after she accused them of sacking her for being over 60.
Her departure from BBC Radio 6 Music after 20 years in March of that year reignited the criticism of the corporation’s treatment of older women, after she tweeted: ‘I got sacked from @BBC6Music because they don’t want women over 60.’
Her brother Andy, had a 17-year relationship with restaurateur Juliette Banner and they share two children together, Sonny and Dolly.
The couple moved to the Isle of Man together but split on their first day there in 2006 when she discovered his infidelity with another journalist.
The Observer reported: ‘The dream turned sour on their first day, when she borrowed his mobile and discovered on it a message from a woman with whom he’d had a one-night stand at the Womad festival (“it alluded to a leg-over in the Reading area”).’
He later wrotein his autobiography, No Off Switch in 2011, that the encounter was of such little significance, he hadn’t even bothered to delete the message.
He implies that he is incapable of fidelity, referring to himself as a ‘selfish d***head’.
His book is filled with references to beautiful, intelligent women that he couldn’t resist, writing things like: ‘I treated Melanie, the sweetest and most loving of girlfriends, disgracefully.’
Juliette took out a yearlong restraining order on Andy after he refused to accept the breakdown in their relationship.
Andy’solder sister, Liz Kershaw, 67, is one of the longest serving female national radio DJs in the UK, having been on the radio for more than 30 years
Two years later it was reported that Andy was imprisoned three times – and arrested many more – for breaking the terms of the restraining order that forbade him from contacting her.
He was given a six-month term suspended for two years after pleading guilty, and left the Isle of Man to address his problems.
In 2012, he told a judge he had lost everything’ after hounding Juliette in the wake of their split.
He said: ‘I have lost my kids. I have lost the woman I love. I have lost everything. It is a very difficult time for me. I just want peace and quiet.’
