talkSPORT legend Danny Kelly dead at 69
Legendary sports broadcaster Danny Kelly has died aged 69 after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer earlier this year.
Legendary sports presenter Danny Kelly has died at the age of 69.
The talkSPORT broadcaster, who fronted Trans-Europe Express on Sunday nights, died on Tuesday afternoon (10.11.26) after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer earlier this year.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday (11.11.26), the radio station said: "We are heartbroken to share that our much-loved friend and colleague Danny Kelly has died, aged 69.
"A cherished part of talkSPORT for so many years, Danny brought extraordinary wit, warmth and knowledge to our airwaves. His passion for football, music and life was infectious, and his kindness touched everyone around him.
"'I love football, Stan. I love it.'
"We loved you, Danny. We’ll miss you dearly.
"Our thoughts are with Danny’s family, friends and everyone who loved listening to him."
Kelly is survived by his wife, journalist Alex Clark.
He was a lifelong fan of Tottenham Hotspur and presented a podcast focused on the north London club for The Athletic, titled The View From The Lane.
Spurs paid tribute to Kelly, writing on social media: "The entire Tottenham family mourns the loss of one of our own, broadcasting legend Danny Kelly.
"Our thoughts and love are with his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.
"Rest in peace, Danny."
Comedian Danny Baker, 69, who had worked with Kelly since the early 1990s, declared his close pal the "funniest man I ever knew".
Taking to X, he shared two shots of them over the years, with the caption: "My great friend, supreme broadcaster and funniest man I ever knew, Danny Kelly, died yesterday afternoon.
"I cannot believe I will never hear his voice again."
Commentator Ian Abrahams, also known as Moose, said he felt honoured to have worked with Kelly.
Also on X, he penned: "Absolutely heartbroken to hear Danny Kelly has passed away. One of the best broadcasters I’ve worked with.
"One of the most amazing, kindest, funny, passionate people I knew. Danny, we’ll always have 'I love Football.'
"I will miss you my friend, sleep well."
In March, Kelly told talkSPORT listeners that he had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
He said: "I need to talk plainly to you all now because the majority of our listeners, better or worse, are men. And men are often very difficult people to talk about and talk to and talk with about medical issues.
"So I don't intend to mince my words here. I'm going to tell you that I am a sick man. Six weeks ago, I went to the doctor, hat on the side of my head, something going on with my eating.
"I thought it was probably acid reflux and he would give me a big bag of Gaviscon. Other tablets are available.
"Instead, it turns out that I have cancer."
Kelly continued: "To be specific, I have cancer of the oesophagus, a really dangerous thing. Now look, that's the bad news.
"The less bad news, because it isn't really good news, is that after another long series of tests, after a very tense three or four weeks waiting for results, the medics say that the thing hasn't spread inside my body and that they can and they will help me.
"What I'm facing, to be truthful with you all again, is a tough and lengthy programme of treatment. There will be chemicals, there will be surgery, and there will be chemicals again.
"It is a hard road, but one that the doctors are hopeful that will see me emerge recovered and healthy at the far end.
"Now, obviously, there will be times during this, whole stretches of time where I won't be fit to broadcast."
Born in Islington, London, on December 23, 1956, Kelly began writing for NME around 1983 and became the magazine's editor in the late 1980s, a position he held until 1992.
He later edited the British music monthly Q, leaving the publication in 1995, and launched the sports magazine Total Sport. In 1997, he founded the 365 Corporation, best known for the football website Football365.
Kelly joined talkSPORT in December 2007 as a stand-in presenter before signing a permanent contract with the station in August 2008. He went on to host a number of programmes, including The Full Time Phone-In, The PressBox and Trans-Europe Express, which he presented on Sunday nights.
Since August 2021, Kelly had also presented The Athletic's Tottenham Hotspur podcast The View From The Lane.
In 2018, Kelly and his long-term partner, journalist Alex Clark, moved to Ireland, where he continued to broadcast remotely. The couple announced they had married in December 2021.
