BBC Radio Wales broadcaster Chris Needs dies aged 66

Radio broadcaster Chris Needs has died at the age of 66.

Mr Needs, a classical pianist and actor who joined BBC Radio Wales in 1996 and hosted his nightly show for 18 years, died on Sunday from a heart condition.

The presenter from Cwmafan in Neath Port Talbot invited listeners to join his "Friendly Garden" and he was awarded an MBE by the Queen in 2005.

Long-time friend and singer Bonnie Tyler and BBC Radio 1 breakfast show host Greg James have paid tribute.

Listeners to Mr Needs' show have also been sharing their memories and Ann Williams from Barry said his nightly shows helped her get through lockdown.

"He was so uplifting and I listened to him every night when I was in bed and I felt with my headphones on, he was just talking to me," she told BBC Radio Wales.

"I live on my own and he really helped me though lockdown in those nights. I just looked forward to listening to him so much. He was just unique, so talented and so accomplished."

"I think I'm going to need some tissues tonight, I'm going to struggle to listen without him."

"He was a friend to everybody. I'm going to really miss him," she said.

Singer and broadcaster Mal Pope will present Monday's tribute show to Mr Needs from 22:00 BST on Monday.

Mr Needs started his radio career with Touch AM, before moving to the BBC, where he started hosting The Friendly Garden Programme in 2002.

The night-time show developed a loyal following over the years, with listeners able to subscribe to an on-air membership club known as The Garden.

Singer Bonnie Tyler says her friend of 50 years Chris Needs has "left a lot of love behind"

Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler - famous for her 1980s hits Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding Out for a Hero - was one of the most famous members of the Garden.

"I met him in 1969 when I first started singing. He was fabulous," she told BBC Radio Wales.

"I've been crying my eyes out today. He was wonderful on the radio, he was like everybody's friend. He played great music. He was so different.

"He has got so many wonderful memories. What are his listeners going to do? He was like a friend to them.

"He was very very talented. He loved the showbusiness, he was made for it. I was so proud of what he did with his show. He has left a lot of love behind."

Each member of his 'Garden' was issued with a membership number and received a starter pack, badge and goody bag upon joining.

"When I first joined the garden he sent me a photo of him and Buster, a fridge magnet and a pen," said Brian Jones from Treherbert, who started listening to Mr Needs when he was suffering with insomnia.

"I've still got the pen! He was the type of person you could relate to. Warm and funny."

The editor of BBC Radio Wales Colin Paterson paid tribute to a "giant of Welsh radio" and sent "deepest sympathies" to Mr Needs' husband Gabe and his family.

Chris Needs welcomed visitors to his mythical Garden for 18 years

"Chris was an amazing character - a one off and an all-round entertainer," he said.

"There are lots of debates about the BBC, what we do and how we do it. There is no better example of public service broadcasting than that programme.

"Particularly if you lookover the last few months as we've come together to get through Covid. Every night, at 10 o'clock as you were going to bed, you knew Chris would be there. His contribution to Radio Wales can't be underestimated."

"For almost 20 years, the Friendly Garden has brought people together from across Wales and the world, from every walk of life.

"The ability to bring people together was one of his many strengths and I know the Garden team, along with all of us at Radio Wales will miss him. But our thoughts today are with Chris's husband Gabe, his family and his friends at this incredibly sad time."

Friend Rhydian Roberts, the Welsh singer who starred on X Factor, said Mr Needs had been "suffering pretty bad" for a couple of weeks but "didn't want anybody to know".

"He loved his fan base and his listeners who relied on him a lot," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"His show was an eclectic mix because of his passion for music. That's what we loved about him, a great character."

BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James, opera singer Paul Potts, newspaper columnist Carolyn Hitt and comedians Mike Bubbins and Mike Doyle have paid tribute to Mr Needs on Twitter.