BBC newsreader Nigel Jay dies

Former BBC regional news reporter and presenter Nigel Jay has died aged 66.

The presenter worked for the beeb’s North West news service from 1989 until 2005.

“I joined BBC television news in the North West in March 1989, shortly before the Hillsborough disaster. Though I wasn’t directly involved in reporting it, it was a very tense period in which to begin my job.” He told the BBC North West website in a retrospective of its output.

Jay was seen across the daily output from Breakfast News summaries to the main evening 6.30pm magazine show.

“As well as at breakfast time, I found myself presenting bulletins at all times of the day. I presented at lunchtimes, late nights and at weekends when the role was simply presenter as opposed to today’s presenter/producer. I used to write the weekend sports reports too.”

After leaving the BBC in 2005 he ran his own media training seminars as well as turning to production, including directing a documentary for BBC World. As a writer, he penned the book The Answer To Everything.

Fellow corporation colleague and former North West Tonight anchor Gordon Burns tweeted,

“Nigel Jay was a very young 66. Too young to leave us. So sad.” Adding “Lovely messages coming in [concerning] ex-BBC NW news presenter Nigel Jay who has died. For those who asked think it was from a massive heart attack.”

Nigel was a keen boater in and around Middlewich’s waterways, he lived on a longboat, ‘Veronica Jay‘, which he planned to turn into a series of mini documentaries about living on the British canals.

A BBC statement said, “We are saddened by the news that Nigel Jay died yesterday.

“He was a lovely man – a professional at work, and also great fun to have around. He will be missed by many of us here. He hosted BBC North West Tonight’s bulletins and became a much loved face on our screens.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.”

Nigel Jay, 1947 – 2013