General Chat

I've just heard he's died.

My wife and I were interviewed by him for his Radio 4 programme (Home Truths) earlier this year. He was great!

youre joking!!! my hubbys fav person

I wouldn't joke: Look at the BBC news home page. John Peel was one of the UK's most-loved broadcasters Veteran BBC broadcaster John Peel has died at the age of 65, while on holiday in Peru. Peel, whose radio career spanned 40 years, was on a working holiday in the resort of Cuzco with his wife Sheila when he suffered a heart attack. He was BBC Radio 1's longest-serving DJ and in recent years had also presented Home Truths on Radio 4. Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt said Peel's contribution to modern music and culture was "immeasurable".

dreadful news isn't it..... had a heart attack on holiday in peru!!

just looked, i will have to text him at work.

didnt mean you were having me on,when i said your joking it was a shocked your joking

Sorry Debora. Y*hoo home page: LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Veteran disc jockey and broadcaster John Peel has died in Peru while on holiday in the ancient Inca city of Cuzco, his employer the BBC and the British embassy say. "He passed away. We don't have any details. We received a phone call at 4 a.m. from his brother to inform us," said Jonathan Clare, an embassy official in Lima. The BBC in London said on Tuesday Peel was on a working holiday in Cuzco with his wife, Sheila. There was no other comment from the BBC. Peel, born in 1939, was one of the country's original pirate radio disc jockeys in the 1960s, broadcasting from ships anchored just outside British waters that won huge followings. Peel was his assumed "pirate" name. In the late 1970s he championed punk rock to the consternation of many of his radio contemporaries who were still playing rock supergroups -- and were convinced the new music fad would never have any real impact. Peel -- an authority on independent music -- was honoured with an Order of the British Empire.

oh what sad news... My thoughts go out to his family... Elaine x

Hadn't heard John. what sad news.

The hubby has just been on the phone, he is feeling very low John was his favourite. I'm stunned, what a loss, I cannot imagine Radio without him. My thoughts are with Sheila and the rest of his family. RIP. John very sad day. Pat x

Blimey what a shock. How sad He will be so missed

Here's a brief bio: John Peel was born in Heswall near Chester in 1939 and after completing his military service in Britain in 1962, went to Texas and began working for WRR radio in Dallas. For the next three years he moved to various radio stations in America, among them KOMA in Oklahoma City and KMEN outside Los Angeles. He returned to Britain in 1967 and joined Radio London with the celebrated show The Perfumed Garden. John was with Radio 1 from the beginning in 1967, establishing himself with the late night programme Top Gear. John was the first DJ to give exposure to punk, reggae and hip-hop, long before they crossed over into the mainstream. Almost anyone who is anyone in the world of music has recorded a session for Peel. John added a new string to his bow when in 1998 he became the presenter of a new magazine programme called Home Truths on Radio 4. The programme reflected on the trials, tribulations and delights of family life. He and it became firm favourites with the audience. John regularly topped music paper Best DJ polls. In 1998 John was awarded an OBE. In 2002 he received the industry's highest accolade, when he was awarded the Sony Gold marking his outstanding contribution to radio over 35 years of broadcasting. John was awarded a host of Honorary Degrees - MA (University of East Anglia) Doctorates (Polytechnic University of East Anglia and Sheffield Hallam University), Hon. Degrees (Liverpool University, Open University, Portsmouth University, Bradford University) and a Fellowship (John Moores University Liverpool). He most recently hosted his show on Radio 1 three nights a week and Home Truths on Radio 4.

Just read this a great shame. Watched a programme called Going Home, I think when he returned to his childhood home not that long ago. RIP John. Diane

Just came in from work and put the radio on. I could not believe my ears- one of my favs on the radio. He will be missed. R.I.P. Liz

My thoughts are with his family at this sad time sandra

I just read that its a shame my thoughts are with his family.

he will b so missed he introduced me to all differnt sorts of music including the fantastic group "the cure" i used to listen to his late nite show during the late 70`s early 80`s RIP john

Didn't he narrate for a recent programme called Going Home, where people re-visited their childhood homes etc?.. I liked that!..

He was the best person on the wireless