Reaction to death of Sir Terry Wogan

Summary

Veteran BBC broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan dies at the age of 77
His family said he had been suffering from cancer
Sir Terry died on Sunday morning, surrounded by his family
BBC director general Tony Hall said Sir Terry "was a national treasure"
Sir Terry was best known for the breakfast show on BBC Radio 2, and his 1980s chat show on BBC One

Live Reporting

Emma Harrison, Rob Corp and Victoria Lindrea

Fans share their sadness at news of Sir Terry's deathpublished at 10:46
Here are some of the emails coming into the BBC, following the announcement of Sir Terry Wogan's death at the age of 77.
Image source, AFP
I cannot believe this awful news. I used to listen to Terry every morning and he was a joy to listen to. I shall miss him very much. God bless you, Terry. You were one of the true greats
Sid Turner
I first found Terry Wogan on my radio in the 1970s when I was a medical student. He has stayed with me right through my life. Wherever I was, he would be on my radio. Now I am a retired surgeon and have lost a good friend I never met.
Rob, Durham
I am 52 and Terry was the male voice of my childhood, in our house every morning as I got ready for school with my brother and my single mum (who herself had moved to England from Ireland), a similar age to Terry. In fact, I’ve listened to him for most of my life – we were on the same wave-length, ‘scuse the pun!
My Mum shed a tear when Ray Moore (who used to be on earlier) died and I have too this morning.
Terry – thanks for the joy, the laughs, the good music and the kindness of your voice.
Diane Hughes
On our first date in 2005, my now husband and I were chatting away, when I dropped into conversation that I had a confession. “I'm afraid”, I said “That I do wake up with Wogan...” “Me too!” he exclaimed. Bold statements for people of 22 and 27!
The rest, as they say, is history. We've been married 9 years, have two fabulous boys, and left our wedding reception to the Floral Dance. Thank you, Wogan, for laughter, love and life in your own unique way.
Sara Moore
Esther Rantzen: Sir Terry Wogan had a "magic touch"published at 10:40
Media caption,
Esther Rantzen: 'We thought that Terry was immortal'
'The most remarkable Eurovision commentator in history'published at 10:37 GMT 31 January 2016
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Wogan has left 'a very big gap'published at 10:33
Helen Boaden, director of BBC Radio, hailed Sir Terry Wogan's 'intimacy, wit and subversion' calling him 'a giant of BBC radio': "He always had the best interests of the listener at heart".
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Radio in this country without Terry Wogan - it feels like a very big gap.
Helen Boaden
Artist shares Pudsey imagepublished at 10:30 GMT 31 January 2016
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Wogan's Eurovision quipspublished at 10:27
"She had a nasty shock before she came on stage" - Norway, 1987
"The lady's poured into something black" - Netherlands, 1993
"Here he is - the beard from Basel" - Switzerland, 1994
"That was song 11. There's only about 300 more to go" - Croatia, 1995
"Cruella de Vil sings for France" - France, 1999
"A defined, well-set, lump of a woman," - Malta, 2005
Gambaccini: Wogan was a 'master of the language'published at 10:24
Another Radio 2 colleague, Paul Gambaccini, praised Sir Terry Wogan's "incredible commitment" to his work, and enviable gift of the gab. He said Sir Terry "did the work, put in the time... but never took himself that seriously".
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He could speak in a way that had you smiling... had you laughing, and touched you to the heart. The audience knew he was with them - and he was part of their lives.
Paul Gambaccini
Listen: Sir Terry Wogan on Desert Island Discspublished at 10:21 GMT 31 January 2016
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Sir Terry's parting thoughts on leaving Wake Up To Wogan in 2009published at 10:12
Sir Terry Wogan stepped down from presenting Wake Up To Wogan on BBC Radio 2 in 2009 after two stints on the breakfast show totaling 27 years.
He told his listeners:
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There hasn't been a morning, no matter how dark and drear, that I haven't had a smile on my face and a song in my heart at the prospect of your company, your marvellous mail, your wit and wisdom...
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It touches me deeply that I have played a part in your lives, for it seems like generations; mothers and fathers who tell me how they force their children to listen to me in the morning, just as they were forced by their parents...
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This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my broadcasting career, to say goodbye to you in the mornings. But if not this year, when? Five years, 10? I'd rather leave while we're in love, as the song says, while the programme is the most popular on British radio, while we still delight in each other's company...
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So, this is not goodbye, it's not even au revoir… As they used to say when I was a lad, 'See you later alligator… in a while, crocodile."
Britain has lost one of its favourite people, says ex-BBC chief Lord Gradepublished at 10:07
Media caption,
Britain has lost one of its favourite people said Lord Grade about Sir Terry Wogan.
Sir Terry the 'innovator'published at 10:06
Jeremy Vine has joined the tributes to his Radio 2 colleague, Sir Terry Wogan, describing him as "unfailingly courteous and encouraging" when Vine began as a young broadcaster.
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The secret [of Wogan] was he was the same off the air as he was on the air... genuinely a lovely man
Despite Sir Terry's versatility and popular TV persona, Vine said radio was his "spiritual home", praising him as "an innovator... edgy, risky, never bland".
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He was probably the greatest broadcaster since the invention of the microphone. He lived for the red light and the sense that there was a listener at the end of the microphone. He only ever spoke to one person, because the greatest radio is intimate
Jeremy Vine
Sir Terry Wogan: a look back in picturespublished at 10:00
Image source, PA
Image caption,
In 1986 the Duke of Edinburgh appeared with Sir Terry Wogan on the Wogan chatshow
Image source, PA
Image caption,
A picture from 1984 of security men pretending to frogmarch Sir Terry Wogan from Broadcasting House in London as he finishes a 12-year run hosting the early morning BBC 2 Radio breakfast programme
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Sir Terry Wogan with Diana Ross when she was a guest on his early morning BBC Radio 2 programme in 1981
Wogan was 'one of the greatest broadcasters who ever lived'published at 09:48 GMT 31 January 2016
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'A giant of our profession'published at 09:47
Radio 2 DJ Paul Gambaccini pays tribute to Sir Terry on the BBC News Channel.
Media caption,
Gambaccini: Wogan was 'a giant of our profession'
Prime Minister David Cameron: 'Britain has lost a huge talent'published at 09:43 GMT 31 January 2016
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Esther Rantzen: 'We thought he was immortal'published at 09:41
Friend and colleague Esther Rantzen has heralded the "wonderful charm and quirky sense of humour" of Sir Terry Wogan, following the announcement of his death this morning.
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Terry has been enchanting us for years. Nobody could charm us the way that he did. We loved him, but we also admired him. Take one was always the best and only take.
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We weren't prepared for this... we thought he was immortal.
Esther Rantzen
Wogan ' unfailingly encouraging and friendly' - Radio 2 colleague Jeremy Vinepublished at 09:39 GMT 31 January 2016
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Radio 2 colleagues and friends react to Sir Terry's deathpublished at 09:34 GMT 31 January 2016
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'To many of us Terry was Radio 2'published at 09:30 GMT 31 January 2016
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Terry Wogan 'was a national treasure'published at 09:29
Tony Hall, the BBC's director general, said:
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Terry truly was a national treasure.
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Today we've lost a wonderful friend.
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He was a lovely, lovely man and our thoughts are with his wife and family.
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For 50 years Sir Terry graced our screens and airwaves.
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His warmth, wit and geniality meant that for millions he was a part of the family."