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Brian Hayes, the renowned former radio presenter for both LBC and the BBC, has passed away at the age of 87. Hailing originally from Australia, Hayes was instrumental in reshaping the radio phone-in format beginning in the 1970s. His career, which stretched over five decades, was marked by a distinctive approach that treated callers not merely as spectators but as genuine participants with important contributions. Hayes believed phone-ins should feel like “a conversation that matters,” elevating the interaction between presenter and listener to a meaningful dialogue.
James O’Brien, an LBC presenter, paid tribute to Hayes during his show, emphasizing Hayes’ revolutionary impact on radio. O’Brien said, “If he didn’t invent the genre of radio that we all attempt to provide you with every day, then he certainly revolutionised it.” He recalled his first experience watching Hayes in action on a BBC program, amazed by Hayes’ curiosity and engagement with current affairs. O’Brien added that Hayes fundamentally changed expectations for listeners, encouraging them “to be able to explain yourself,” a shift that deepened public discourse on the airwaves.
Clive Bull, another presenter from LBC, reflected on how Hayes transformed the relationship between hosts and callers. Before Hayes, UK radio had limited genuine dialogue, but Hayes introduced a probing style, asking callers challenging questions such as, “What do you mean?”. Unlike the shock jocks that followed, Hayes focused on debating the logic and facts of callers’ arguments, revolutionizing the phone-in from a simple call-out format to an interactive platform for scrutiny and reasoning. Hayes’ passing was also noted by colleagues Steve Allen and Jonathan Perry, who remembered him fondly and acknowledged his declining health in recent years.
Born in Perth in 1937, Hayes initially worked in newspapers and broadcasting in Australia before relocating to the UK in the early 1970s. He contributed behind the scenes at Capital Radio’s launch in 1973 before transitioning to an on-air role. Hayes made his mark hosting LBC’s morning interview and phone-in show from 1976, where his readiness to challenge callers earned him a reputation as a tough but fair interviewer, even attracting satirical attention. His career included stints on BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show and later hosting the award-winning phone-in program Hayes Over Britain, as well as appearances on BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio 4. Hayes also returned to LBC for Sunday night broadcasts later in his career.
Mark Dolan of TalkTV described Hayes as the “piranha of the airwaves,” commending how he “reinvented the phone-in format in the UK – with stunning success,” while maintaining an air of respect even toward political figures. Dance DJ Dave Pearce recalled Hayes’ show as “must-listen radio,” and broadcaster Paul Rowley hailed him as “the best phone-in presenter on British radio,” underlining Hayes’ sharp yet balanced style. Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, expressed sympathy over his death, acknowledging Hayes as a beloved figure among listeners.
Jamie McIvor, a BBC Scotland news correspondent, shared personal memories of Hayes from working with him as a teenager on a viewer access program in the 1980s. McIvor described Hayes as “supportive, encouraging and kind,” and credited him with inspiring and shaping his broadcasting career. McIvor called Hayes “an absolute legend” and expressed gratitude for having witnessed his work ethic and professionalism firsthand. Through his innovation and integrity, Brian Hayes left a lasting legacy in British radio broadcasting
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