The Irish broadcaster, known for his wit and insight on BBC Berkshire, passed away peacefully on Tuesday after a period of ill health, according to his family.
In a statement, they 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.”
Born in Dublin on April 17, 1946, Kelly started his career at The Irish Times, becoming its northern editor in Belfast during the 1970s.
In 1976, he moved to London, joining BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight as a reporter and presenter.
Kelly later became a prominent TV host, presenting ITV’s Game For A Laugh and BBC One’s Going For Gold for ten seasons.
The original show, featuring a theme from composer Hans Zimmer, saw international contestants competing for a cash prize.
Kelly also appeared in Dinnerladies, TV-am, and After Dark, and was a founding presenter on Classic FM from 1992 to 2003.
He was voted national broadcaster of the year in 1994 in the Sony Radio Awards.
His later radio career included the Henry Kelly Show on LBC and a tenure at BBC Radio Berkshire from 2005 to 2015.
In 2022, Kelly was called to give evidence at the inquest of barman John Moran, who was killed in a 1972 loyalist bomb attack.
Kelly also authored How Stormont Fell, detailing the events affecting the Northern Irish parliament, and co-authored Classic FM Musical Anecdotes, Notes And Quotes with John Foley.
