In pictures: David Jacobs's career

David Jacobs in 1962 — Image caption,
Broadcaster and presenter David Jacobs, whose career spanned seven decades, has died aged 87. He had been one of the founding presenters of Top of the Pops and most recently hosted The David Jacobs Collection on Radio 2.

The postmaster (Jon Pertwee) is caught red-handed by the Vicar (David Jacobs) and PC Potts (Norman Shelley) - 1950

Jacobs only stepped down from his Radio 2 show last month due to ill health. His long presenting career was also interspersed with some acting appearances, including one in 1950 with John Pertwee and Norman Shelley - Jacobs played the vicar in this episode of Puffney Post Office.

1/01/1967 Chris Denning, Penny Valentine, Mel Torme, Janette Scott, David Jacobs

Between 1957 and 1969, Jacobs hosted Juke Box Jury. At its inception, it was one of BBC TV's rare acknowledgements of the increasing dominance of pop music, and was attracting huge audiences by the 1960s.

Compere David Jacobs talking to the audience in Studio 2, Television Centre, during the warm up before the live showing of Juke Box Jury. 01/01/1964

During his stint at the helm of Juke Box Jury, Jacobs developed a warm rapport with his audience. He later recalled having to tell the enthusiastic crowd to pipe down before one recording so the main guests - The Beatles - could be heard.

From left: Gordon Jackson, Bruce Forsyth, Simon Gray, David Jacobs, Esther Rantzen and Alan Bates at the Variety Club of Great Britain's show business lunch in 1976

Jacobs (centre-right) was named BBC Radio Personality of 1975. He had shown he could handle current affairs as well as light entertainment - presenting topical debate show Any Questions for 17 years from 1967.

Kate Fisher, David Jacobs and Diane Haywood on the set of Come Dancing in 1984

Back on the lighter side, Jacobs went on to present Come Dancing, the original ballroom competition that would later morph into the glitzy Strictly version.

David Jacobs and Michael Crawford in Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em in 1975

In 1975, he made a cameo appearance alongside Michael Crawford in the Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em Christmas special. In the episode, hapless Frank Spencer receives a letter from the BBC asking him to take part in a show called Man About The House.

David Jacobs and Sue Lawley at the Radio 4 Desert Island Discs 50th Anniversary Party held on Tuesday 21st January 1992.

Jacobs, pictured here with Sue Lawley in 1992, also appeared on Desert Island Discs, opting for works by The Beatles, Judy Garland, Duke Ellington, and Tchaikovsky.

On his death, Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan called Jacobs "a true giant of the BBC" whose broadcast hallmarks were "great taste, authority and warmth".