Andy Kershaw's Will Reveals £425,000 Estate Left to Children

Radio 1 DJ and Live Aid presenter Andy Kershaw left an estate valued at £425,000 to his two children, Dolly and Sonny, following his death from cancer at the age of 66. Kershaw signed his two-page will just 17 days before he passed away in April.

Probate documents indicate that his estate was valued at £495,000 before debts and expenses totaling £70,000 were settled. The will also stipulated that his children should share his possessions, with his sister, fellow DJ Liz Kershaw, assisting in the distribution.

Kershaw's will also included instructions for the care of his dog, Bertie, expressing a wish for the pet to go to his solicitor, Jayne Brearley, or to a new home of Brearley's choosing. The broadcaster had announced his cancer diagnosis in January, noting at the time that he was unable to walk but remained in good spirits and was planning a new podcast.

Kershaw began his broadcasting career in 1984, hosting BBC Radio 1's rock music show, 'The Old Grey Whistle Test.' He later co-presented the BBC's television coverage of Live Aid. He succeeded John Peel at Radio 1, becoming known for his diverse musical taste and for introducing listeners to non-mainstream genres. Kershaw also traveled extensively for the BBC, covering global conflicts and cultural stories for programs like 'From Our Own Correspondent,' 'The Today Programme,' and 'The World Tonight.' His reporting included the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the final stages of Sierra Leone's civil war in 2001.

He received multiple Sony Radio Academy Awards during his career and was recognized for bringing world music and specialized genres to mainstream radio. Kershaw moved to BBC Radio 3 in 2001 but departed in 2007 after experiencing personal difficulties, including the breakdown of his long-term relationship and a jail sentence for violating a restraining order. He had a 17-year relationship with restaurateur Juliette Banner, with whom he had Dolly and Sonny. The couple separated in 2006. Kershaw's actions following their breakup led to him being imprisoned multiple times for breaching a restraining order taken out by Banner. He later described the period as a difficult time during which he had 'lost everything.'