Veteran DJ Jimmy Young dies aged 95

The long-serving DJ, who spent almost three decades at BBC Radio 2, died "peacefully at home" on Monday afternoon with his wife Alicia by his side, a family spokesman said.

Sir Jimmy began his BBC career on the Light programme, which was rebranded Radio 2 in 1967, the same year Radio 1 launched.

He went on to fill Radio 2's early afternoon slot until 2002.

Before becoming a presenter on the airwaves, Sir Jimmy had a number of hit pop singles during the 1950s, including a cover of the Nat King Cole song Too Young.

Tributes have been pouring in for the presenter, who was born Leslie Ronald Young in 1921.

BBC director general Tony Hall said: "Sir Jimmy Young defined Radio 2 and was a true broadcasting pioneer. He will be dearly missed by his many fans."

Sir Jimmy's former Radio 2 colleague Ken Bruce tweeted: "So very sad to hear about the death of my old friend Sir Jimmy Young. One of the most able broadcasters I ever worked with."

The Queen was said to be among the millions who tuned in to his Radio 2 show.

Sir Jimmy interviewed every prime minister from Alec Douglas-Home to Tony Blair - with Baroness Thatcher a guest 14 times.

Sir Jimmy's working life began as a clerk for a minister of education and a manager of a hair salon before he achieved his dream of getting a career in entertainment.

The broadcaster left the BBC after more than 30 years behind the desk after he was replaced in a revamp at the station to attract younger viewers by new controller Jim Moir.

Sir Jimmy made no secret of the fact it was not his choice to leave, and a motion was even put down in Parliament to keep him on.

But he made up with the BBC in later years, hosting a one-off special for his 90th birthday.

The Light Programme, where Sir Jimmy began his career, was broadcast simultaneously on Radio 2 and Radio 1 from 1967, making Sir Jimmy one of Radio 1's original DJs.

Fellow broadcaster Tony Blackburn said in a statement: "Jimmy was a legendary broadcaster, there at the very start of Radio 1 and then, for so long, the voice of Radio 2.

"2016 has been a terrible year for losing iconic figures from our youth. Today we lost another."