Broadcaster Danny Kelly dies aged 69

journalismNov 11, 2026721,894

Danny Kelly has died aged 69. Kelly was a longtime broadcaster and journalist who edited the New Musical Express and Q magazine, presented BBC radio sports shows in the 1990s alongside Danny Baker, and joined Talksport in 2007. He stepped back from his long-term role at Talksport after being diagnosed with throat cancer in March. Kelly presented The Athletic’s Tottenham podcast from August 2021 until March this year. Talksport paid tribute calling him a "much-loved friend" and a "broadcasting titan," praising his wit, warmth and knowledge. Tottenham called him "one of our own," and colleagues including Danny Baker and BBC Radio 5 Live's George Cummins remembered his encyclopedic music and football knowledge and his kindness off air.

ProdnoseAsWas

@lordshortcake.bsky.social

If you want to pay tribute to Danny Kelly tonight you might want to listen to one of his favourite albums, King Crimson's 'Red'. Although I wouldn't because its a fucking racket. Try another of his faves instead, Culture's Two Sevens Clash.

335Yesterday

Dixie Normous6

youtu.be/-3D1aRAAF2M?... the best phone call ever

Tarquin6

I have both those albums. Can confirm, Two Sevens Clash is considerably more accessible than Red.

One For The Teenagers5

Two Sevens was the last record you played for him on Radio 1

Lee Randall4

Been thinking of you today. It’s a specific pain, losing a friend. Xx

Nick Gape4

I'm with Danny. Red for me.

James Tringham3

One of those where I'm genuinely upset by his death. And it will be infinitely worse for his close family and friends. Like you, of course.

Quoting this

Ian Laidlaw19

My pleasure Danny. You’re going to be SO missed 💔 #dannykelly #Culture #twosevensclash #COYS #vftl

Brian Moore

@brianmoore666.bsky.social

Very sad news about the passing of Danny Kelly. I did many shows with Danny, an eclectic and articulate broadcaster, with a fantastic sense of humour and an encyclopedic knowledge of music. On top of that, he was wonderfully kind person. RIP

3022d ago

Ben Stanley4

Every time I heard him broadcast, whatever the context, I knew I would learn something. There was an enormous amount of knowledge and wisdom there, worn very lightly.

BrexitVoyeur1

He was great on the radio was Danny. Very sad news. 😔

Barry Glendenning

@barryglendenning.bsky.social

I was lucky enough to do a few radio shows with Danny Kelly. I felt like the guy blowing a kazoo during a Jimi Hendrix guitar solo but he could not have been more kind, friendly and funny. We won't get to have our planned pint in a pub equidistant from Birr and Graiguenamanagh and that is a shame ❤️

1902d ago

Alyx1

What a broadcaster he was. Had that wonderful ability to make you feel like you were sitting listening to a friend. I still to this day go on YouTube deep dives and listen to the old shows with Danny Baker

Philip O'Connor1

What an incredibly decent, talented and fascinating man he was.

Birmingham 81

@birmingham81.bsky.social

RIP Danny Kelly. Heartbreaking news. Danny was the enthusiast's enthusiast, sharing his huge knowledge of both music and sport with humour and passion via the pages of the NME and Q, or over the airwaves with BBC London and TalkSport. Remembering him with this lockdown podcast youtu.be/CPXFThuuIiU

116Yesterday

Quoting this

Scott Dougal2

Just tremendous. Grant me this passion and foolishness and appetite.

Philip King

@junkshopper.bsky.social

Very sad to hear of the passing of Danny Kelly. Before the days of staring at computers he would walk to each department of the NME spreading bon homie and sprinkling his irreverent and pompous puncturing humour - whilst making sure the cogs of the paper kept turning smoothly every week.

1202d ago

Danny Kelly

@dannykelly.bsky.social

Danny Kelly had a brilliant career but a highlight for me will always be this cover, article and in particular that headline. Putting the full weight of an Indie music newspaper behind the most exciting era of Hip Hop. Danny knew!

109Yesterday

Ian King

@twoht.bsky.social

Something quick about Danny Kelly's passing, and he and Danny Baker's reinvention of football on the radio in the 1990s. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-occasi...

462d ago

Martin Dewar4

There was a period where the two Dannys were the sound of driving home from a game for my Dad and I. Great times. RIP Danny.

Danny Mansfield 1

I often think about the original 6-0-6. A wonderful show to fill the drive home from spurs on a Saturday evening. Pre-David Mellor it was an absolute joy. Both Dannys were fantastic and totally got what it meant to be a football fan. A million miles away from the current, mindless iteration.

Quoting this

Alan Fisher8

Thanks Ian, justified focus on his football radio work, a true delight and memorable 15 years on. A few calls available on YouTube search Danny Baker archive including Standard Liege and the Dundee Utd fan's giant wooden bowtie.

Dan Thomas6

This is great. Don't think that Standard Liege story has ever been topped on radio, before or since. It was a genuine highlight of my teenage life when Danny read out a message of mine on his Talksport show with Danny Baker. What a man. (Was a complaint about Christian Gross)

David Stubbs

@davidstubbs.bsky.social

Sad to hear of the news of Danny Kelly's passing. Relations between NME and Melody Maker were sadly a bit fraught when he was at NME which limited our interactions but I subsequently found him to be a true gentleman and I admired him greatly as a broadcaster. Condolences to my ex-NME friends.

462d ago

The Tuesday Club

@tuesdayclub.bsky.social

Sad to hear about Danny Kelly. Always good to listen to on the radio and a nice bloke. Thoughts with @lordshortcake.bsky.social who has lost a great pal. The only silver lining: for one man at least, the humiliating agony of being a Spurs fan is finally over…

50Yesterday

Andy Lewis

@andylewis.bsky.social

Danny Kelly in full editorial mode. As an aside, Afflecks was the place that I purchased a fair chunk of my Northern Soul collection from a man flogging his entire stock cheap. "Nobody'll dance to this old shit ever again" he said as I paid £5 for a mint US copy of So Is The Sun by The World Column

282d ago

Nige Tassell

@nigetassell.bsky.social

When two great men – Danny Kelly and Nigel Blackwell – graced the same screen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G9P...

232d ago

Quoting this

Sean Carroll3

Nigel always seems more comfortable talking about second tier football than music.

Hey Kids Rock'n'Roll

@heykidsshop.bsky.social

So, Danny Kelly then. The sheer joy of him & DB's reaction to this astonishing phonecall is something I return to often. I doubt there have ever been two funnier minutes of radio. youtu.be/AZxX_d0rLHU?...

252d ago

Quoting this

waltydunlop34

"why did you want a bow-tie?" "why does anybody want ANYTHING? I already had a rattle" Oh, Gordon. You deadpan genius.

Boothy

@booster1a.bsky.social

Paul Hawksbee talking beautifully about Danny Kelly today. 2:30 in. youtu.be/DEd3iS5relA?...

17Yesterday

David Henig

@davidheniguk.bsky.social

Sad to read this of the passing of Danny Kelly, part of an era of football (alongside Danny Baker) in the late-80s / early 90s when it was coming out of deep shame, through humour and silliness as much as campaigns, prior obviously to the big-money version today.

242d ago

Jeff Livingstone

@defjeff.bsky.social

Not a word, mind, I really shouldn’t be here, but I’m raising a glass to Danny Kelly tonight. An outstanding writer, an incredibly knowledgeable and intelligent man, and, by every account I’ve ever heard, the nicest bloke going. A hero of mine since the mid 80s for so many reasons. Gan well, Dan.

26Yesterday

3 sources

nytimes.comDanny Kelly, beloved broadcaster and View From The Lane presenter, dies aged 69 (Gift Article)theguardian.comDanny Kelly, football broadcaster and renowned editor, dies aged 69 bbc.co.ukDanny Kelly: Ex-BBC radio presenter described as 'broadcasting titan' after death aged 69

Broadcaster Danny Kelly dies aged 69journalism

Broadcaster Danny Kelly dies aged 69

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