Ed Stewart, British broadcasting personality, Died at 74

Edward Stewart Mainwaring was born on April 23, 1941, and died on January 9, 2016.

Popularly known as Ed “Stewpot” Stewart.

He was a British broadcaster.

He became famous for his work as a DJ on BBC Radio 1 (particularly the Saturday morning Junior Choice) and BBC Radio 2 and as a presenter for Top of the Pops and Crackerjack on BBC Television.

Ed attended St Edward’s School, Oxford, and his broadcasting career began in Hong Kong.

He was touring there as a bass player with a jazz group, he then acquired a job on a local radio station as a sports commentator, then as an announcer and, finally, as a disc jockey.

Stewart remained at this station for four years.

In the year of 1965, he became a DJ on the offshore station Radio London and was the chief DJ until the time it closed on August 14, 1967.

In 1967, Ed was one of the first DJs to join BBC Radio 1, presenting Happening Sunday and What’s New.

Stewart became a regular presenter of the BBC television programme Top of the Pops in 1971.

In 1980, Ed moved to BBC Radio 2, presenting Family Favourites and the weekday afternoon programme. He was dropped from the Radio 2 line-up in October 1983.

Ed Stewart at one point said he was “shocked and disappointed” by the decision of Radio 2 controller Bryant Marriott not to renew his contract.

He met his wife when she was 13 and he was 31.

Ed became her husband four years later.

The couple got divorced in 2006, they had one daughter and a son.

Ed Stewart passed away at 74 yrs old on 9 January 2016 in hospital in Bournemouth due to a stroke.