Roman Kemp broke down in tears on his Capital Breakfast radio show on Monday as he paid tribute to the show’s producer, Joe Lyons, following his sudden death.
The presenter, who returned to the show after taking a break last Tuesday, remembered his “best friend” in an emotional broadcast.
Breaking down, the I’m A Celebrity star said: “We wanted to share some really sad news. I never thought I’d have to do this ever.
“Last Tuesday, very suddenly, we lost one of our best friends. Our producer Joe, he was a member of the Capital Breakfast family.
“We are trying to process this all together. We wanted to share this news with you.”
Roman continued: “Joe had worked for Global, the parent company, for nine years.
“He was the very first person I met when I walked through the door. I remember thinking he was a bit of a Del Boy.
“He was with me right from my very first show. He taught me everything. I don’t know sitting in a radio studio without him.”
Discussing their close bond, Roman added: “He’s the person I’d sit here and rinse constantly.
“He loved dogs. Obsessed with his daily step count. Never ironed his clothes. He loved his family so much. His dad Ivan, his mum Celia, his sister Lou.
“He did love his friends… his fans, he did have fans. The thing he loved most of all was doing this show, you listening.
“He was like a genius coming up with these ideas. He was driven by the reaction from you every day.”
Roman’s mother, Shirlie Kemp also paid tribute on Instagram, writing: “God Bless you Joe .... you were and always will be so loved.”
Fellow Capital Breakfast presenter Vick Hope, also took to Instagram on Monday morning to pay tribute.
Sharing a series of pictures of them together, she wrote: “Our Joe. My JoeJoe. My special, magical, beautiful friend. We signed off every message with ‘I love you, buddy’, and yet I’m worried I still didn’t tell you enough.
“I really do love you, bud, so so much. We all do. I hope you know that. We are so lucky to have known you. The world is a better place for having had you in it. And now the stars have gained an extraordinary gift in you.
“Look at everything you made, Joe. Everything you achieved, what you built, who you inspired. Your talent and creativity are so immense, but more than that you are the kindest, most hilarious, caring, fun, fiercely loyal and spectacular person any of us had the pleasure of meeting.
“You really are the best one we ever knew. Our friend. My friend.”
She continued: “For the last four years you have been my solace, my rock, my confidante. I’ve told you all my secrets, and you said you’d take them to the grave. And now it seems you did just that, and it breaks my heart.
“Words cannot describe this pain, it doesn’t make sense and it’ll take time to process. I keep repeating: Not you, please not you. But now you’re at peace, you’re in a better place. I’m going to miss you Joe Lyons, so much.”
Joe’s cause of death has not been revealed.