BBC presenter and journalist Lynda Shahwan has died aged 53 following a car crash during a family holiday in Canada, it has been confirmed.
The mother-of-two, from Heath in Cardiff, had been visiting the country with her husband Sharif and their two sons when the tragedy occurred.
Shahwan worked for the BBC for 25 years and helped create and co-host Terry Walton’s Plotcast, one of Wales’ most popular podcasts, exploring the joys of allotment life on a Rhondda hillside.
The podcast attracted thousands of listeners, offering seasonal gardening advice and warm, engaging conversations between gardening expert Terry Walton and Shahwan.
Walton described their collaboration as "the most fulfilling and cherished broadcasting I have done", adding: "Our chemistry and her creative talent made every episode a gem of gardening knowledge – such fun whilst still being very informative. Her professionalism and easygoing manner made every recording a pleasure and brought the best out of us both. We became true friends and after recording we would both relax and discuss many aspects of life."
He said: "We pass our sympathies on to Lynda's husband Sharif, their two sons and all of the family on the tragic and sudden taking of Lynda from us far too soon."
Tributes also poured in from her colleagues at BBC Radio Wales. Carolyn Hitt, Head of Radio Wales, said: "Lynda was a very special person. Since she began her career with Radio Wales in 1999 she made a brilliant impact on the station, on and off air, working across almost all of our output.
"For several years, Lynda was Roy Noble's fellow presenter on his morning show, where he affectionately christened her 'The Lily from Caerphilly'.
“More recently, Lynda was back in front of the mic once more, this time with Terry Walton, co-presenting and producing her fantastic passion project the Plotcast – just one of the many examples of her creativity and innovation. We are all devastated at Radio Wales at the sudden loss of our much-loved colleague and friend and our hearts go out to Lynda's husband Sharif – who is also a much-loved colleague – their two sons and all their family and friends."
Veteran BBC broadcaster Roy Noble said: "Our feelings of condolence go to Lynda's family, Sharif and the boys. It was a sudden, sudden loss to them and something we in Radio Wales cannot process. Her legacy will be always, always remembered.”
