Ken Bruce and Tony Blackburn have led tributes to late BBC Radio 2 legend Phil Swern, following his death aged 76.
Swern, who earned the nickname ‘The Collector’ in his illustrious career, produed Pick of the Pops for Radio 1 in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
He went on to produce the show on Radio 2 from 1997 up until last year, as well as Sound of the 60s for 17 years.
Swern also played a pivotal role in Bruce’s quiz show PopMaster – which has now moved from Radio 2 to Greatest Hits Radio – by coming up with the questions.
In a post shared on X, Bruce, 73, wrote that it was one of the ‘saddest days’ following the loss of his close friend.
‘It’s the saddest of days as my great friend Phil Swern has passed away. Phil was a brilliantly inventive man with a passion for music. He had a vast career as a record and radio producer, deviser of tv formats and as the guiding light and co-creator of Popmaster,’ the radio presenter wrote.
‘He was a one-man fount of all pop knowledge, starting his record collection as a boy and still displaying the same enthusiasm into his seventies.
‘Without him, there would be no Popmaster, on radio or tv. He leaves a giant gap in my life and in the lives of so many.’
Blackburn, 81, also shared a heartfelt tribute, writing: ‘I am very sad to say that my dear friend of over 60 years and producer of @BBCRadio2 Sound of the Sixties passed away yesterday afternoon after a long illness.
‘I am so glad I saw him and his wife Lynsey last Friday. Phil, the Collector, Swern will be missed by us all.’
More to follow.