Andy Kershaw

Infobox Radio Presenter
name = Andy Kershaw

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caption = At the unveiling of a Blue Plaque for "The Who" at the University of Leeds on 17 June 2006
birthname = Andrew Kershaw
birthdate = Birth date and age|1959|11|9|df=yes
birthplace = Rochdale, Lancashire
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style = Disc Jockey
country = United Kingdom
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Andy Kershaw (born November 9 1959 in Rochdale, Lancashire) is a British broadcaster, known predominantly as a champion of world music.

His shows feature a mix of country, blues, reggae, sounds from around Africa, folk music, Asian music and spoken word performance from the likes of Ivor Cutler and John Cooper Clarke.

Biography

The son of a headmistress, Kershaw and his sister, fellow presenter Liz Kershaw, were born in Rochdale. [citeweb|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23411461-details/DJ+Kershaw+%27devastated%27+as+ex+says+it+really+is+all+over/article.do|title=DJ Kershaw 'devastated' as ex says it really is all over|publisher=ThisIsLondon.co.uk|date=24 December, 2007|accessdate=2008-01-15] Kershaw attended Hulme Grammar School, before studying politics at University of Leeds, where he also held the office of Entertainments Secretary for Leeds University Union [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/presenters/andy_kershaw.shtml] .

His career in broadcasting started with Leeds station Radio Aire. He then moved to London and worked as a roadie for various acts, including Billy Bragg.

He presented the music programme "Whistle Test" for BBC television in the mid-1980s which featured sessions from new and established acts, and during this period was one of the anchormen of the corporation's coverage of Live Aid.

He then joined the national pop network BBC Radio 1 to host a Sunday night show which, as his tastes broadened, eventually became a weekly outlet for world music, featuring acts and styles from all corners of the globe. He left the station after 15 years in 2000. Kershaw subsequently hosted a world music show on BBC Radio 3 and is a keen traveller.

In July 2003 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of music by the University of East Anglia, [ [http://comm.uea.ac.uk/press/release.asp?id=226 UEA - UEA press releases ] ] and in 2005 he was similarly honoured by his old university, University of Leeds [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/feature_kershaw.shtml BBC - Radio 3 - World Music - Andy Kershaw Honoured ] ] (having failed to graduate originally).

Andy was critical of Radio 1's scheduling after his friend John Peel died in 2004.

In June 2005 Kershaw criticised Bob Geldof over the choice of artists due to play at Live 8, saying the bills for the various concerts included few black performers and even fewer Africans. This echoed his sentiments expressed over the choice of acts for Live Aid concert staged by Geldof in 1985.

Andy has been involved with two compilations called "Great Moments in Vinyl History" which document his wide music taste. In March 2007, he appeared on "Desert Island Discs".

From July 2007 Andy was absent from his Radio Three show for an extended period and the show was hosted by numerous guest presenters.

In January 2008 Kershaw's show was replaced by a new world music programme entitled "World on 3", presented by Charlie Gillett, Lopa Kothari and Mary Ann Kennedy. As yet there has been no announcement from the BBC as to whether Kershaw will return to the network in the future.

Personal life

Kershaw had a long term relationship with Juliette Banner, who owns a restaurant in Crouch End, North London. The couple have two children, son Sonny and daughter Dolly. Kershaw is a lifelong fan of the TT races, which first brought him to the Isle Of Man at the age of 14. Juliette bought a holiday home on the island in 2003. In April 2006, the couple moved permanently to the island, and planned to convert a former nursing home on the sea front in Peel into a home and studio complex, from where Kershaw could present his radio show. [citeweb|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23410967-details/BBC+DJ+Andy+Kershaw+banned+from+pubs+after+being+freed+from+jail/article.do|title=BBC DJ Andy Kershaw banned from pubs after being freed from jail|publisher=ThisIsLondon.co.uk|date=4 September, 2007|accessdate=2008-01-15]

After the breakdown of the relationship a restraining order was placed on Kershaw, preventing him from contacting Miss Banner. On 30 August 2007, Kershaw was imprisoned for breaking the restraining order after being picked up near the home of Miss Banner. [ [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007400900,00.html BBC radio presenter in jail | The Sun |HomePage|News ] ] He was released a week later on £2,000 bail [ [http://www.beardedmagazine.co.uk/viewarticle.php?id=61 Bearded Magazine :: When the country is in the brown, independent music gets BEARDED ] ] before then pleading guilty to the offence when appearing in court on a drink-driving charge. He was charged with causing alarm and distress to Banner and her partner Jim Imrie, [ [http://www.beardedmagazine.co.uk/viewarticle.php?id=66 Bearded Magazine :: When the country is in the brown, independent music gets BEARDED ] ] and on 9 October, 2007 was sentenced to three months in jail suspended for 18 months at the Isle of Man Courts of Justice. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7035454.stm BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Suspended jail term for radio DJ ] ]

On 11 December 2007 Kershaw made another court appearance in which he pleaded guilty to charges of being drunk and disorderly, breaching the restraining order for a second time and sending "text messages of an abusing nature" aimed at Miss Banner and Mr Imrie. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7138496.stm BBC NEWS | Entertainment | DJ Kershaw warned he faces jail ] ] The judge advised Kershaw that "when we meet on 15 January it might be advisable to have your bags packed," and he was jailed for three months on 15 January 2008. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/7189222.stm|title=Kershaw jailed for order breach|publisher=BBC News|date=15 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-15] He was released on 29 February after serving 44 days of his sentence. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/7273012.stm DJ Kershaw is freed from prison, BBC News, 1 March 2008] ]

On 3 March 2008, Kershaw was returned to jail after being freed only three days earlier. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/7276558.stm Arrested DJ Kershaw back in jail, BBC News, 4 March 2008] ] He was arrested near his home on the Isle of Man for allegedly breaching the restraining order once again. At the subsequent court hearing on 4 March, he pleaded guilty to the charge and was given a six-month jail term suspended for two years, on condition that he agreed to leave the Isle of Man to sort out his personal problems. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/7276558.stm DJ told to 'go home with mother', BBC News, 5 March 2008] ]

On September 11 2008 it was reported that an arrest warrant for Kershaw had been issued for another alleged breach of his restraining order. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/7607717.stm Arrest warrant for Kershaw, BBC News, 11 September 2008] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/presenters/andy_kershaw.shtml Biography on the BBC website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/andykershaw/ Andy Kershaw on BBC Radio 3]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs_20070311.shtml Andy Kershaw on "Desert Island Discs"]