[Sticks]

From the BBCWebsite

Former BBC disc jockey Ed "Stewpot" Stewart has died a few days after having a stroke, friends have said.

Rocky Taylor, a friend of 40 years standing, said the former BBC Radio 1 DJ and Crackerjack presenter died in hospital in Bournemouth.

Mr Taylor said he had been informed of his death by Stewart's ex-wife Chiara.

Stewart's former brother in law Adriano Henney tweeted to say the DJ had died after a short illness. "Fun guy-Huge loss," he added.

Stewart's broadcasting career spanned more than 50 years, starting as an announcer with Radio Hong Kong.

One of the first presenters on Radio 1 when it launched in 1967, he went on to become a regular Top of the Pops presenter in the 1970s.

He was a regular Radio 2 presenter for 15 years, and during that time broadcast from the summits of Ben Nevis and Snowdon mountains, Vesuvius volcano in Italy, and also broadcast live from the Falkland Islands.

'Broadcasting stalwart'

He was also a longstanding presenter of children's show Junior Choice, which last broadcast on BBC Radio 2 over Christmas.

In his sign off at the end of his final programme, he thanked listeners, saying: "I'll be with you whenever".

Director of BBC Music, Bob Shennan, said Stewart had been a "stalwart" of popular music broadcasting for many years, whose shows had been enjoyed by millions of listeners.

His BBC Radio 2 colleagues were extremely saddened to hear of his death, he said, adding: "We are thinking of Ed's friends and family at this difficult time."