Tributes have been paid to a Sony Gold award-winning BBC radio presenter who has died aged 44 after a short illness.
Lisa Shaw was a broadcasting institution in the north-east of England, having moved through the region’s commercial radio stations before finding a home at Radio Newcastle in 2015.
For almost 13 years she was a presenter on Real Radio, winning a Sony Gold award for breakfast show of the year in 2012 alongside Gary Philipson.
Her death was announced by Alfie Joey on the Sunday morning show on Radio Newcastle. His voice cracking, he summed up how local radio presenters were beloved members of their communities, before playing Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold.
“At BBC Radio Newcastle, we share everything together, because where we live you live. The shows we do are your shows, they’re not our shows. We visit the same places you do, we go to the same parks, we go to the same libraries. Your kids go to our kids’ schools. We are always talking about stories in the north-east that matter, that matter to all of us. Sometimes it’s our job to tell you things that we would rather not and this, I’m afraid, is one of those moments,” he said.
“We are so sorry and so saddened to share with you that after a short illness our beautiful friend, our lovely colleague Lisa Shaw has died at the age of only 44. Lisa, as you know, was genuine, warm, kind, calm and full of life and she was a wife, she was a mammy, a very special person and she meant a lot to a lot of people, including us at BBC Newcastle.”
A statement from Shaw’s family described her as an “amazing person” who had “touched and enriched so many people’s lives, and made them better just by being in it”.
“We are all completely heartbroken, in disbelief, numb, and saddened, that there is a Lisa-shaped hole in our lives that will never, ever be filled,” they said.
“We are so grateful for the time that we have had with her, and there are so many happy memories that we will hold dear for the rest of our lives.
“She was the best wife and mammy, sister, daughter, aunty, friend and colleague that anyone could hope for. She loved connecting every day with the wonderful people of the north-east, and it gives us great comfort to know how many lives she was an integral part of every single day.”
Chris Burns, the head of BBC Local Radio, said: “Lisa was a talented presenter who had already achieved a lot and would have achieved much more. She hosted a special programme at Easter broadcast on all 39 of our local stations in England, a fact that reflects the regard she was held in. My thoughts are with Lisa’s family, friends, and colleagues at this terrible time.”
Tribute were also paid to Tony Lyman, another BBC presenter, who died at the weekend from leukaemia, aged 65. Lyman joined BBC Radio Derby in 2010, presenting the early show for the East Midlands and a Sunday music show.
His career, which spanned more than 40 years, began in hospital radio and included stints at Leicester Sound, Smooth and as continuity announcer on Central TV.
BBC Radio Derby’s executive editor, Aftab Gulzar, said he was a “brilliant broadcaster” and “wonderful man”.
