BBC Radio 2 broadcaster

Born: September 17, 1928;

Died: April 8, 2017

BRIAN Matthew, who has died aged 88, was a popular broadcaster who became one of the most familiar voices in radio history. For almost 70 years, he appeared in various music shows, but he was most recognised for his 27-year stint as presenter of the Saturday morning Radio 2 show Sounds of the 60s.

He started broadcasting in 1948 in Germany and trained as an actor - the theatre was always his firs ambition - before joining the BBC in 1954. After Radio 2 was launched in 1967, he became one of the station's first DJs and hosted programmes such as Saturday Club, Thank Your Lucky Stars and Late Night Extra. He was also known for presenting the long-running Round Midnight programme which won the 1987 Pulitzer Publishing Award.

In April 1990, after Round Midnight was axed, he began presenting Sounds of the 60s, which played listeners’ requests and won a Gold Sony Radio Award in 1996, until a special farewell episode earlier this year in which he said he was saddened to leave. The BBC said he left the show because of ill health; Matthew himself suggested that he had been forced out against his will.

Born to musical parents in Coventry in September 1928, he did his national service in the army where he broadcast for the British Forces' Network during his posting to Hamburg in 1948.

After the army, he blossomed on the radio music scene, capturing the attention of BBC producers after his first appearance on the new Saturday Skiffle Club - later renamed Saturday Club - in 1957.

The move was to change his life from radio announcer and producer to renowned presenter and interviewer, bringing his listeners the personal words of the biggest musical stars of the day, including Bo Diddley, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Manfred Mann and The Who.

But while it seemed like a role he was born for, Matthew made no secret of his other passion and first serious ambition: the theatre.

Before joining the BBC in the early 1950s - and taking on brief jobs on Radio Netherlands Worldwide, and then as a milkman in Coventry - he trained at Rada, and eventually came to own a 50-seat studio theatre inside his own home. He also had a number of television roles, appearing in The Adventures of Robin Hood.

The stage turned out to hold an even deeper meaning for the star, as it was while working with the Old Vic Company in the late 1940s that he met his wife-to-be, Pamela Wickington.

His talents in front of a camera saw him take on other television roles during the 1960s - including hosting shows Thank Your Lucky Stars and Swinging UK - before he cemented himself as a much-loved regular radio presenter.

The job saw him claim the well-deserved Broadcasting Press Guild Award for outstanding contribution to radio in 1990.

Even after a generation-crossing career on the channel, he rarely failed to give his loyal listeners his signature goodbye: "This is your old mate Brian Matthew saying that's the lot for this week, see you next week."

His farewell show earlier this year closed with Billy Fury's Last Night Was Made For Love. As the last track played out, Matthew said: "That 1962 top-five hit by Billy Fury brings me to the end of my reign as presenter of Sounds of the 60s and I must say I've enjoyed every minute of my 27 years in this chair.

"I'm saddened to leave but I'll be back on Radio 2 in the near future with something new, so keep your eyes open for further information."

He added: "This is your old mate Brian Matthew saying that's your lot for this week, see you again soon."

The nostalgic two-hour programme signalled his last regular radio slot, but even after his retirement from regular programming, he continued to work on a series of specials with Radio 2, determined not to part with the career that began with his very first broadcast while posted in Germany in 1948.

Matthew called Radio 2's decision to replace him "balderdash" and suggested that he had been forced out.

After his death, the head of Radio 2 Lewis Carnie described him as one of this country's most popular and best-loved presenters. Director of BBC radio and music and former controller of Radio 2 Bob Shennan said Matthew was a radio legend.

Last week, not long after he had presented his final Sounds of the 60s programme, the BBC mistakenly announced that Matthew had died.

The organisation issued a statement on behalf of his family, before withdrawing it several hours later, clarifying he remained critically ill.

Away from broadcasting, Matthew was interested in yachting and DIY, but his great love remained the theatre and he loved his own private stage in his home in Kent. He liked inviting friends and family to watch the productions which he hosted there.

Brian Matthew is survived by his wife Pamela and son Christopher.