Howard Hughes obit

Former BBC radio presenter Howard Hughes dies

 

He was not on the list.

Former BBC Radio Berkshire newsreader and presenter Howard Hughes has died.

Hughes was the first voice heard on the radio station when it launched in 1992, before going on to read the news on the Capital Breakfast Show, working alongside Chris Tarrant.

He later started a podcast called The Unexplained, exploring space, science and the paranormal.

An announcement on the podcast's website on Saturday said the "beloved and respected" presenter had died a week ago.

Adam Cornwell, who helped produce Hughes’ podcast for sixteen years, said in the post that Hughes left behind a huge archive and legacy.

He wrote: "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Howard Hughes, the beloved and respected creator of The Unexplained With Howard Hughes and a dear friend who sadly died a week ago."

In a recorded audio message on the page, he said the presenter had died after a short illness.

He added: "He wasn’t simply a presenter, he was a friend to those who tuned in, a guide who journeyed with them through the unknown and, for long-time listeners, a constant through life’s good and bad times.

"Howard will be forever missed but never forgotten."

Throughout his career, Hughes interviewed celebrities like David Bowie and Lionel Richie, as well as high profile figures such as Tony Blair when he was the UK prime minister.

He also covered the death of Princess Diana and the 7/7 London terror attack in 2005.

'What a voice'

Paying tribute to Hughes, BBC Radio Berkshire's executive editor Duncan McLarty said: "Howard had an unforgettably smooth voice, genuine warmth and a deep love of radio which was obvious to colleagues and listeners."

In a post on X, former BBC Radio Berkshire breakfast presenter Andrew Peach described Hughes as a "dear friend".

He wrote: "He made every word, every syllable, count and was the master of morning bulletins."

Steve Penk, Capital's former mid-morning presenter, posted: "He was one of the best broadcasters I’ve ever worked with, he was a joy, lightning-fast, great sense of humour and, of course, that voice."

David Lloyd, co-founder of Boom Radio, added Hughes had been a "huge figure" in commercial radio.

"What a voice - and he knew how to command an audience with it," he said.

Very early in his career, Hughes worked at a pirate radio station, Radio Nova, in the Republic of Ireland. He then worked at Radio Wyvern, a radio station in Worcester, England; his activities in his time at the station included newsreading and newsgathering, presenting the breakfast show and presenting the afternoon show. In 1988, he left the station and began working at County Sound in Guildford.

Hughes moved to presenting the news for Independent Radio News in the early 1990s, and following this he worked at BBC Radio Berkshire, a station which he would return to many years later. After this, he worked at Capital Radio in London on the station's breakfast show, which was presented by Chris Tarrant. He presented the show's news bulletins, which included presenting the news on location when the show travelled to other countries.

In the early half of the 2000s, Hughes provided voiceovers for TV shows in the UK, including Cilla's Moment of Truth and Simply The Best. In around 2000, Hughes started being the voiceover for the British Comedy Awards; he held this role for at least five years.

Hughes then worked at LBC, talkSPORT and Smooth Radio; whilst at talkSPORT, he presented a show about unexplained events called The Unexplained. The show continued as a podcast after it was dropped by talkSPORT, and a separate radio version of the show was broadcast on talkRADIO on Sunday late evenings and Monday early mornings from early 2016 until 2023 or 2024.

In 2014, Hughes started presenting a show on BBC Radio Berkshire which was broadcast between 6 am and 8 am on Saturdays. This show ended in 2019. Hughes also read the news on the station's weekday breakfast show, which was hosted by Andrew Peach.