| Born in Manchester in 1959 Andy is the brother of Liz Kershaw and had an early obsession with Bob Dylan. He was the Entertainments Secretary at Leeds University and ran concerts for two and a half years. Andy organised concerts by The Clash, Elvis Costello and Black Uhuru, among others.
Kershaw began broadcasting at the Leeds/Yorkshire station Radio Aire, with a late-night alternative music and a blues programme.
His BBC broadcasting career started in September 1984 with a report for the Television show Whistle Test.
In 1985, Andy was invited by Radio 1 to present his own show. As his own tastes evolved so did the content of the radio show. Andy was heavily into African music. His weekly Radio 1 shows featured a mix of new and highly eclectic music from around the world. Kershaw won a gold Sony award for the show in 1987. During this period Kershaw also worked as a journalist for BBC Radio 4. including reporting from the 1994 Rwanda's genocide.
He co-presented BBC television coverage of Live Aid in 1985. Kershaw's contract with Radio 1 ended in 2000. His last shows featured music sessions from both Lou Reed and Willie Nelson. Andy presented his Radio 1 show for 15 years until May 2000 to be replaced by a dance music programme.
He worked at BBC Radio 3 from 2001 until 2007. Whilst at Radio 3 he featured and produced a musical tour of Iraq, North Korea and Iran.
In 2007 Kershaw was convicted of breaching a restraining order when he reported to be in repeated contact with the mother of his two children.
He was heard on Radio 3 on and off over the following years until 2020 with shows which included folk music artistes and African music sessions.
Andy was diagnosed with cancer and died aged 66 in Todmorden, West Yorkshire on 16 April 2026.
Andrew Kershaw (9 November 1959 ? 16 April 2026) 
| RADIO REWIND AUDIO CLIPS Please check Audio Help Page in case of difficulty downloading. Audio c BBC |
Inviting you to listen show in 1987 with Ladysmith Black Mambazo (mp3file) Heated Interview with Sigue Sigue Sputnik in 1988 (32kbps mp3) Journey to Timbuctu (April 1989) Listen to Andy's show on Sunday Night (1995) moving to Saturday 9-11pm | 
