Alistair McGeorge
Published December 1, 2025 7:45am
Updated December 1, 2025 7:48am
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Brian Hayes has died, leaving behind an influential legacy (Picture: Evening Standard/Shutterstock)
Radio legend Brian Hayes has died aged 87.
The former BBC and LBC presenter, whose career spanned five decades, was a pioneer in broadcasting as he has been credited with ushering in the modern conversational and confrontational style for phone-ins.
His former LBC colleague Steve Allen revealed the news on X, writing: ‘Brian Hayes has passed away, what a legend RIP.’
Hayes, who was born in Australia, started his career in newspapers and broadcasting, before continuing his growth in the UK in the early 1970s.
He initially started as a producer for Capital Radio when the station launched in 1973, and soon became on-air talent.
Hayes later joined LBC radio as a host of both morning interview and phone-in show, where he was incredibly influential in the development of the format.
Hayes pioneered the art of the radio phone-in (Picture: BBC)
He famously explained that callers should be treated as ‘real people with something to say’, noting that the medium needs to sound ‘like a conversation that matters’.
After leaving LBC in 1990, he joined BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show Good Morning UK!
During the 90s, he also fronted the station’s Hayes Over Britain phone-in, which earned him a Gold Sony Radio Award, while he would also have stints on BBC Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live.
In the 2000s, he made his return to LBC for a Sunday night programme, before retiring from full-time broadcasting.
Fans and fellow professionals have paid tribute to Hayes’ legacy.
Hayes helped inspire the modern day style (Picture: LBC)
Journalist and broadcaster Neck Metcalfe wrote on X: ‘Bloody hell, Brian Hayes has died. What a voice. My mum used to call his LBC show in the 80s.
‘Did shock jocking before it was a thing in Britain really. A broadcaster with genuine authority and gravitas. RIP Brian.’
Aidan Radnedge added: ‘Ah, RIP Brian Hayes. Was a keen listener here each morning in student days way back when to Five Live morning phone-ins, Diana Modill then Nicky Campbell, and also his semi-regular stints stepping in, seeming sterner with guests/callers but warmth for pacy and penetrating debate.’
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And listener Sandy Walker recalled: ‘R.I.P. radio presenter Brian Hayes. He kept the family amused and informed, late 70s/80s listening to LBC.’
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