Former BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Stuart, the mastermind behind popular show ‘Only Connect’ has died. He was 73. 

‘Only Connect’ host Victoria Coren Michell paid tribute to Stuart. 

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“Everyone is devastated by the loss of Chris Stuart, our brilliant colleague. Joyful and lovely and wise and insightful, and a talented broadcaster himself, which listeners to Radio Wales will remember. Most of all he was our beloved, treasured, friend, and we’re heartbroken,” she said. 

Chris Stuart was well known for commentating on Princess Diana’s funeral for the radio. He was the Westminster Abbey commentator across all the BBC’s radio networks then. 

Born in Durham, he was one of the first hosts of BBC Radio Wales. He moved to London to work on BBC Radio 2 as a daily presenter and Radio 4.

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For Radio 4 he was the host of the science quiz Inspiration.

Talking about Stuart, BBC Cymru Wales director Rhuanedd Richards said, “Chris used his intelligence, curiosity and engaging personality to brilliant effect.”

Stuart went to Wales for a journalism training programme at the Western Mail in Cardiff. He graduated from New College, Oxford.

Paying tribute, Ms Richards said: ‘He was instrumental in ensuring the success of Radio Wales in its early days and became one of its defining and most recognised voices.’

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‘He could engage with any topic and find the right words for the big occasions,’ she added.

In 1993, Stuart and his wife Megan set up a television and radio production company called Presentable. They produced Only Connect. 

 “Everyone is devastated by the loss of Chris Stuart, our brilliant colleague. Joyful and lovely and wise and insightful, and a talented broadcaster himself, which listeners to Radio Wales will remember. Most of all he was our beloved, treasured, friend, and we’re heartbroken,” Victoria Coren Michell added.