BBC Going For Gold presenter Henry Kelly dies aged 78
Henry began his career at the broadsheet newspaper The Irish Times after graduating from University College Dublin.
BBC Going For Gold presenter Henry Kelly has died "peacefully" at the age of 78, his family confirmed in a statement on Wednesday morning (February 26).
The beloved television personality, who also was the face of ITV's Game For A Laugh, passed away after "a period of ill health".
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His family said in a statement: "Henry will be sorely missed by his friends and family, including his partner Karolyn Shindler, their son Alexander, Henryâs daughter Siobhan and her mother Marjorie."
Born in the Irish capital of Dublin on April 17, 1946, Henry began his career at the broadsheet newspaper The Irish Times after graduating from University College Dublin.
Initially writing theatre reviews for the newspaper, Henry went on to become the Northern Ireland editor during the 1970s. In a period of political unrest in Ireland, Henry moved to Belfast to cover the Troubles.
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After publishing his debut book How Stormont Fell, Henry made the move to the BBC in 1976, departing The Irish Times to join Radio 4's The World Tonight programme as a reporter.
Quickly proving to be a success in the UK, Henry moved away from news in 1980 when he decided to follow in his close friend Terry Wogan's footsteps and take on the world of entertainment.
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One year after his career U-turn, Henry began presenting prank show Game for a Laugh for ITV. After this Henry went on to join BBC One in 1987 for Going For Gold.
Running for nine years and cementing Henry as an established entertainer, the lunchtime quiz featured players from across Europe who competed by answering general knowledge questions to win prizes.
During the 1990s, Henry became one of Classic FM's first presenters upon its launch, presenting the mid-morning show for a stint before taking on the Breakfast Show for a total of 11 years.
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Henry leaves behind his wife Karolyn Shindler, who he lived with in North London, and their two adult children.