Radio 2 favourite Derek Jameson dies at 82

Veteran broadcaster Derek Jameson has died at the age of 82. He suffered a heart attack at his home and leaves his wife Ellen and four adult children.

After a career in newspapers, Derek moves to Radio, taking over the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show from Ken Bruce in 1986 after sitting in for Jimmy Young in the previous months. He stayed on breakfast till December 1991 when he moved to a late night show co-hosted with his wife until March 1997.

Derek became popular with his radio and television shows, and he once told how when he rang directory enquiries on one occasion the operator asked: ‘Is that Derek Jameson?’.

Producer Gary Bones, who worked on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Jameson in the early 1990s, told the BBC: “Derek was not only a unique broadcaster and Fleet Street legend but also a really nice, kind and generous man who always knew exactly how to tap into the mood of the nation at the time.

“I remember nothing more demonstrated his sensitive nature than when he broke down on air during his daily review of the papers while reading a story about a child with leukaemia.

“Listeners at the time will remember his daily catch phrase, ‘morning, morning, Jameson here’. He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his wife Ellen.”