Henry Kelly, the Irish television host and broadcaster has died at the age of 78.
Kelly’s family confirmed in a statement that he ‘died peacefully’ on Tuesday ‘after a period of ill health.
Their statement said: ‘Henry will be sorely missed by his friends and family, including his partner Karolyn Shindler, their son Alexander, Henry’s daughter Siobhan and her mother Marjorie.’
Kelly was a well-respected journalist in Ireland until he had a career change at the age of 34 and began presenting light entertainment shows.
He co-hosted Game for a Laugh from 1981 until 1983 and became a household name across the UK.
In June 1983, Kelly became the host of the Saturday edition of Good Morning Britain with Toni Arthur, also working on Summer Sunday.
From 1987 until 1996 he presented Going for Gold, a lunchtime television quiz game show on BBC1.
While he was best known as a television presenter, Kelly also appeared on radio as a host on LBC and Classic FM.
In his later life in 2005 he took over the mid-morning show on BBC Radio Berkshire, he also presented a Saturday mid-morning show for the station until 2015.
Kelly is also a published author, releasing his book How Stormont Fell in 1972, about his time working as a journalist in Belfast during the troubles.
The broadcaster was born in Athlone, in County Westmeath, Ireland and lived for much of his life in the UK.
He lived with his journalist wife Karolyn Shindler in Hampstead with their two children.
Fans have paid tribute to the late broadcaster with a messages pouring out across social media.
Mark Dolan, the host of The Mark Dolan Show said in tribute: ‘The amazing Henry Kelly has died. I met him as a child, when I got my first glimpse of live radio, whilst he was at LBC in Gough Square. He was generous, funny, clever & wise.
‘And very strict about how his Guinness was poured! RIP total legend 🙏’
‘Ah RIP Henry Kelly Loved Going For Gold on the the BBC whenever I wanted a sick day from school Prime lunch time TV viewing,’ said Hauzinho13 on X.
‘RIP Henry Kelly. You didn’t just go for gold, you were gold.’ said Doris_from.
‘It’s heartbreaking to hear of the passing of the Going for Gold presenter HenryKelly he was a lovely man sending condolences to his family and friends RIP Henry,’ added Mofoman360.
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