'A wonderful man'

Former BBC radio comedy boss  John Pidgeon has died this morning at the age of 69.

He started his career in music journalism and then radio and in the late 1980s  produced and wrote sketches for Brunch, Capital Radio's mix of music and comedy, which featured the likes of Angus Deayton and Jan Ravens.

He also made comedy documentaries, including four series of the award-winning Talking Comedy for Radio 2

In 1999, at the age of 52, he was approached by the BBC to run the radio entertainment department, which he did for six years, nurturing Dead Ringers, Flight Of The Conchords, Little Britain and The Mighty Boosh. 

He was appointed a Fellow of the Radio Academy in 2003 and chaired the Perrier Panel in Edinburgh in 2005.

One of Pidgeon's first recruits to radio entertainment was  Danny Wallace, then 23, as a trainee producer. In one interview after becoming a broadcaster himself,  Wallace was asked who in the media he most admired and why. He answered: ‘Jonathan Ross for pioneering and quick wit. Terry Wogan for reassurance and warmth. And John Pidgeon, my mentor at the BBC – a finer and more creative man you're not likely to meet.’

After moving away from comedy, Pidgeon went on to compile crosswords for the Daily Telegraph under the name of Petitjean.

Tributes have flooded in on Twitter.

Comedian Andy Smart said: ‘Very sad to hear of John Pidgeon's passing. He knew a lot about comedy and rock music. I have fond memories of our chats in Edinburgh.’

Writer David Quantick said: ‘Goodbye, John Pidgeon.  Commissioned shows by me and lots of my friends and colleagues. A lovely man who will be very much missed.’

And Guardian sports and music writer Richard Williams added: ‘Sad to learn of the death today of writer/broadcaster John Pidgeon, my friend of 45 years, after a long illness. A wonderful man.’

Published: 19 Jul 2016