BBC and commercial radio presenter Gary Burgess has died aged 46

Written by Roy Martin

BBC and commercial radio broadcaster Gary Burgess has died after being diagnosed with terminal cancer two years ago.

He passed away peacefully at Jersey Hospice Care on New Year’s Day.

Gary was 46 years old and blogged openly about his journey. He had a column in his local newspaper, with his latest article appearing in the Jersey Evening Post just last week.

He loved radio, after starting work at Radio Wave in Blackpool when it launched in 1992, and penned his Love Letter to Commercial Radio for RadioToday in 2021.

He worked at Wire FM in Warrington, Q96 in Renfrewshire, Island FM in Guernsey, BBC Radio Guernsey, and most recently Channel 103 in Jersey. He also worked at Juice FM in Liverpool where he also oversaw programming across the then UTV Radio portfolio across the north of England.

He moved to the world of television in 2011 working for ITV News ever since.

Gary and his husband, Alan, made history as the first same-sex couple in Jersey to tie the knot after politicians voted to legalise same-sex marriages in 2018.

Gary was first diagnosed with testicular cancer back in 1999 which, although having spread to his chest and lungs, appeared to have been successfully treated at the time with chemotherapy. He was diagnosed again in 2015 and underwent further treatment.

Five years on, in November 2020, Gary’s oncologist told him his cancer could not be treated and estimated he had 6-12 months to live.

Gary left a message to be published after he died. He wrote: “I’ve had the best life. I’ve had the luckiest life. I met my soul mate and the love of my life who went on to become my husband. I got to work with some of the most amazing people in newsrooms and studios doing the job I absolutely adore.

“And I’ve been able to share my own relatively short time on this planet surrounded by friends and loved ones who have enriched my life in ways they may never truly understand.

“My greatest sadness is the prospect of leaving all of that and all of them behind. The thought of doing that to Alan is unfathomable to process, but I also know the very people who’ve shown me love and support will now wrap up those feelings around him in the coming days.

“It’s time for me to hand over my microphone and keyboard for others to do the talking about me, so let my final words simply be ‘thank you’. Every person in my life has, in their own way, helped me live my best life. That’ll do.”

Gary’s husband, Alan Burgess, announced the news in the early hours of Sunday morning. He said: “I expect there will be many tributes made to Gary in the coming hours and days and I want to keep my words about him now as simple as I can.

“Through his career in journalism and broadcasting, Gary would have seen every variation of words describing someone’s strength and bravery, their wit and humour, their kindness and generosity, their stubbornness and determination, their sense of mischief and their joy in life’s simple pleasures.

“So, in an attempt to avoid cliché, I am just going to misquote a line of dialogue from the final episode of The West Wing, being one of Gary’s favourite programmes and something said with love and pride by one spouse to the other.

“You did a lot of good, Gary. A lot of good.”

Earlier, a treatment room at Macmillan’s support centre, The Oasis, was named in Gary’s honour and funded by the Gary Burgess Appeal 2021.

At Channel 103 and Island FM, Station Director, James Keen, pays tribute: “Gary was a rare talent – from managing radio stations to holding politicians to account, he was the ultimate media all-rounder, as comfortable behind the microphone as he was in front of the camera, respected by listeners and viewers alike.

“He’ll be fondly remembered by all of us at Island FM and Channel 103 as not only a terrific broadcaster but a fun, funny and loyal colleague and friend.

“Our thoughts are with Alan, and all of Gary’s family and friends, at this time.”

More: Broadcaster Gary Burgess Dies (Channel 103)

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Posted on Sunday, January 2nd, 2022 at 10:47 am by Roy Martin

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