Brian Matthew is still alive, says BBC ( )

...after announcing his death aged 88

THE BBC had to issue an embarrassing correction yesterday after wrongly reporting that the veteran DJ Brian Matthew had died at the age of 88.

It announced the death of the former Sounds of the 60s host at midday yesterday and offered tributes from senior BBC figures.

But shortly after the first report went out, the BBC issued a correction saying the DJ was not dead but ‘critically ill’.

The blunder came weeks after the corporation axed the much-loved presenter from his Radio 2 show after 27 years, angering his many fans. After yesterday’s initial report that Mr Matthew had died on Tuesday night, BBC director general Lord Hall praised him as a ‘true broadcasting great’.

He said: ‘Brian Matthew was an outstanding broadcaster who entertained and engaged millions over generations.

‘He had a wonderful style of delivery and a real connection with his listeners… We will all miss him and, of course, that voice.’

Meanwhile, director of radio Bob Shennan remembered Mr Matthew as a ‘radio legend [who] will be sorely missed’. The BBC also included a comment from Mr Matthew’s family, quoted as saying: ‘Our beloved Brian Matthew passed away last night. We ask that our privacy is respected at this time.’

The story was quickly followed up by news outlets around the country and the BBC unveiled plans for two special tribute programmes.

But two hours after the first report, the BBC issued a correction saying: ‘We were informed by close family and friends that Brian had passed away in the night. They have since been in contact to say that he remains critically ill.’

Yesterday, Mr Matthew’s wife, Pamela, said she did not know how the error happened.

‘Somehow it got exaggerated and he was dying. He is not dying at all,’ she added. ‘He is in hospital. He’s not very well but he is certainly not as bad as I thought.’

She said the DJ had been hospitalised with a chest infection.

Earlier this year, the BBC caused an uproar by axing the popular DJ against his will while he was off work recovering from a fall.

After Radio 2 listeners threatened a boycott, the BBC agreed to have him back on air to say goodbye. However he was replaced on Sounds of the 60s by Tony Blackburn.

‘Somehow it got exaggerated’