The veteran broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young has died "peacefully at home", aged 95.
A spokesman for the former Radio 2 DJ said his wife Alicia was by his side when he passed away on Monday afternoon.
In a broadcasting career spanning almost 30 years, Sir Jimmy became known as the "housewives' choice" and counted prime ministers and the Queen among his many millions of faithful listeners.
The "funny, charming and kind" presenter interviewed every PM since Harold Macmillan, with Baroness Thatcher a guest no fewer than 14 times.
He was also known as much for his singing talents as for his radio broadcasting, making it to the top of the charts in 1954 with The Man From Laramie, and again in 1955 with Unchained Melody.
He was born Leslie Ronald Young in 1921, the only child of a miner in Cinderford, Gloucestershire.
His love of music came from his mother, who taught him to play the piano at the age of seven then went on to become a choirboy at Gloucester Cathedral before winning a scholarship to East Green Grammar School.
But his parents could not afford for him to continue his education and he left school to become a baker's boy.
After singing and playing piano on the club circuit he landed a record deal in 1949 after being spotted by a producer.
LBC radio presenter Iain Dale tweeted: "Much respect to Sir Jimmy Young ... the word 'legend' is overused, but not in his case. A true icon of radio."
Heart radio presenter Simon Beale tweeted: "Very sad to hear about Sir Jimmy Young. I had the privilege to record a 1-hour special with him in 2003. He was funny, charming & kind."
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