Radio One DJ Andy Kershaw has revealed he is battling cancer that has left him ‘unable to walk’
The DJ and presenter, 66, said doctors discovered tumours in his spine last August and said: ‘I am in good spirits, feeling very positive and planning another podcast.
‘I am determined not to die before Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Ant and Dec. That should keep me going for a while.
Andy has been undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and physiotherapy.
His close friend, Peter Everett, said the radio star has been facing serious health struggles since his diagnosis.
Radio One DJ Andy Kershaw, 66, has revealed he is battling cancer that has left him ‘unable to walk’ – doctors discovered tumours in his spine last August
Andy’s career began at Radio Aire , where he worked as a promotions manager
He said: ‘My friend Andy has been going through a difficult time. Last August he was diagnosed with cancer, mainly affecting his spine and making him unable to walk.
‘Since then he has been undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, physiotherapy and a lot of scans and painkillers.
‘Although we’ve not been able to put together any podcasts in the last six months, we are very grateful to all the patrons and supporters who have stuck with us.’
Andy’s career began at Radio Aire, where he worked as a promotions manager and went onto give Carol Vorderman her first job.
He presented the BBC TV’s flagship rock programme, The Old Grey Whistle Test from 1984 and went onto co-present the BBC’s television coverage of Live Aid.
He was later hired by Radio 1 as a successor to the late DJ John Peel.
Andy travelled the world extensively covering conflicts and music and was a regular contributor to Radio 4 and reported on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.
He appears on The Andy Kershaw podcast, which Peter produces, but they last published in June 2025.
Andy, had a 17-year relationship with restaurateur Juliette Banner and they share two children together, Sonny and Dolly.
The couple moved to the Isle Of Man but split on their first day there in 2006 when she discovered his infidelity with another journalist.
Andy Kershaw and ex partner, restaurateur, Juliette Banner were together for 17 years and have two children together called Sonny and Dolly – the couple split in 2006 (pictured in 2004)
It was reported: ‘The dream turned sour on their first day, when she borrowed his mobile and discovered on it a message from a woman with whom he’d had a one-night stand at the Womad festival (“it alluded to a leg-over in the Reading area”).’
Andy wrote in his autobiography, No Off Switch in 2011, that the encounter was of such little significance, he hadn’t even bothered to delete the message.
He implies that he is incapable of fidelity, referring to himself as a ‘selfish d***head’.
His book is filled with references to beautiful, intelligent women that he couldn’t resist, writing things like: ‘I treated Melanie, the sweetest and most loving of girlfriends, disgracefully.’
Juliette took out a year long restraining order on Andy after he refused to accept the breakdown in their relationship.
Andy was imprisoned three times – and arrested many more – for breaking the terms of the restraining order that forbade him from contacting her.
He was given a six-month term suspended for two years after pleading guilty, and left the Isle of Man to address his problems.
In 2012, he told a judge he had lost everything’ after hounding Juliette in the wake of their split.
He said: ‘I have lost my kids. I have lost the woman I love. I have lost everything. It is a very difficult time for me. I just want peace and quiet.’
Andy was born in Lancashire on November 9, 1959. His parents, Jack and Eileen Kershaw, were a headmaster and headmistress.
His older sister, Liz Kershaw, 67, is one of the longest serving female national radio DJs in the UK, having been on the radio for more than 30 years.
In 2022, she claimed the BBC had ‘done her a favour’ after she accused them of sacking her for being over 60.
Andy’s older sister, Liz Kershaw, 67, is one of the longest serving female national radio DJs in the UK, having been on the radio for more than 30 years
Her departure from BBC Radio 6 Music after 20 years in March of that year reignited the criticism of the corporation’s treatment of older women, after she tweeted: ‘I got sacked from @BBC6Music because they don’t want women over 60.’
A BBC insider rejected claims of sexism and ageism, pointing out that Liz had recently presented a four-episode Radio 2 series on the biggest-selling musical acts of the Queen’s reign as part of its Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
But she stood by her claims, saying: ‘I don’t want it to be all about me because I think it’s a bigger issue than that. At the same time, I don’t think it’s a job for life and you do have to make room for new people.
‘But it just seems quite remarkable that whereas there are many men in their sixties, seventies and eighties on these pop stations there are hardly any women.’
A spokesman for the BBC said at the time: ‘All radio schedules evolve over time and after 16 episodes of Liz Kershaw’s Legends In Their Own Lunchtime in a year, we wanted to explore other music stories.
‘There were no other factors involved in the decision and we are proud to have a diverse range of presenters on TV and radio.’