Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Andy Peebles has died at the age of 76, with his colleagues paying tribute to the popular broadcaster.
Peebles was best known for presenting on BBC Radio 1 from 1978 to 1992, but he also hosted episodes of iconic TV show Top of the Pops during that time and was also a cricket commentator.
His fellow presenter Mike Read shared the news on X on Sunday morning, tweeting: ‘Devastated to hear the news about our chum Andy Peebles. He was about to join us at Heritage. We joined Radio One together.’
Read continued: ‘Knew his music & cricket inside out. Raise your bat & enjoy a long rest in the pavilion. We lunched recently with DLT & Adrian Juste. Great innings.’
Peebles’ wife Ann confirmed he died on Saturday, according to the PA news agency, although no cause of death has been revealed.
Heritage Chart radio DJ Read shared the photo from that meal in November 2023, which showed Peebles standing behind a seated Juste, with Dave Lee Travis next to him behind the table as well.
BBC Radio legend Tony Blackburn also tweeted his condolences, sharing: ‘So sorry to hear that fellow DJ from Radio 1 when I was there Andy Peebles has passed away. He was a lovely man and a great broadcaster, very sad news. R.I.P. Andy.’
Peebles started his career as a nightclub DJ in the late 1960s before kicking off his radio career with BBC Radio Manchester in 1973.
He then co-founded Piccadilly Radio in Manchester, where he worked for four years before heading down to London and BBC Radio 1.
The radio star also presented for the BBC World Service and the BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service), but he was most famous for conducting the final interview John Lennon ever gave.
The Beatles star and his wife Yoko Ono recorded a three-hour chat with Peebles in New York City on December 6, 1983, just two days before Lennon was shot and killed by Mark Chapman aged 40.
It had been planned as a five-part series for Radio 1 as Lennon relaunched his career with new album Double Fantasy having taken a five-year hiatus, but was subsequently broadcast across the world.
Later the interview became the subject of the 2020 documentary Lennon’s Last Weekend, directed by Brian Grant.
Peebles spoke to some of the biggest musical stars of the twentieth century during his time at Radio 1, where he presented a variety of daytime shows including his own one about soul and My Top Twelve which was later renamed My Top 10.
Among his legendary guests over the years were David Bowie, Huey Lewis, Roger Taylor, Paul Simon, Debbie Harry, Cliff Richard, Phil Collins, Sting and Peter Gabriel.
He also introduced artists including Bowie, Spandau Ballet and Paul Young at the Live Aid concert in 1985.
Peebles commentated on cricket for the BBC for over 20 years as well and later worked at Manchester’s Smooth FM and London’s 102.2 Jazz FM.
‘RIP Andy Peebles, famously the last man to interview John Lennon. We used to work in adjoining studios at Real Radio,’ shared broadcaster Wes Butters on X. ‘I always remember him telling me what he said to the boss when offered a new contract: “I asked him, do you know what the word derisory means?”’
‘So sad to hear the news about Andy Peebles passing,’ added John Simons. ‘I’ll miss our long conversations about football and soul music, of which he was far more knowledgeable. There’s going to be a Quiet Storm in heaven tonight. RIP Andy.’
‘I can still hear His John Lennon Interview in my head. R.I.P Andy Peebles,’ added fan @laurelaitken007, while listener Glenn Wilson added: ‘Listening to his show in November 1980, he introduced me to this band called U2. I still have his voice on a separate mixtape recorded Christmas 1981 where his closing song was Dan Fogelberg’s Same Old Lang Syne and listen to it every year. RIP Andy.’
Another fan shared his own fond memory of Peebles, writing: ‘I remember one Christmas Day in 2011 listening to him play Christmas carols on Smooth FM while I was cooking. I thanked him for it afterwards and Andy being Andy duly responded. A lovely man!!! May he RIP.’
