Candy Devine: well-known former Downtown Radio presenter has died

One of Downtown Radio's best-known former presenters, Candy Devine, has died at the age of 85.

She passed away in her native Australia.

Candy was recruited as one of the first presenters for the fledgling Downtown Radio station which went on air in March 1976.

A former well-known singer, she became one of Northern Ireland's most popular broadcasters.

In 2014 she received an MBE for 'Services to Broadcasting and to the Community in Northern Ireland'.

Speaking in 2016 when the station celebrated its 40th anniversary, Candy said "Happy anniversary Downtown and thank you for 37 very happy years - I wouldn't have changed a thing."

Paying tribute to Candy, Content Director Stuart Robinson said: "Candy was a household name on radio in Northern Ireland having been with Downtown from launch in 1976 right through until her retirement in 2013.

"Candy was a great broadcaster and communicator and was an inspiration to many aspiring broadcasters coming up through the radio industry.

"Having grown up listening to Candy, it was a great honour to work with her at Downtown."

Former colleague John Rosborough paid tribute on X this morning describing Candy as "a wonderful colleague and outstanding broadcaster,"

And former news colleague David Blevins, now Sky News Senior Ireland Correspondent, also paid tribute to "a saint of a woman" and said he would "cherish the memories".

Karen English BBC NI News & Current Affairs Radio Producer & Broadcast Journalist, who worked alongside Candy in Downtown, described her as a "broadcasting tour de force."

And Don Anderson, who was Downtown's first programme controller, said: "I brought Candy into broadcasting back in 1976 when the station began as one of the first 21 commercial stations in the UK.

"She was first and foremost a performer, a cabaret singer in Belfast - a very good one.

"Broadcasters need an attractive voice, but personality is what raises some broadcasters above others.

"Candy had a warm outgoing vivacious personality which connected immediately with her audience, whether live or on airwaves. Her status as one of the best loved Ulster broadcasters was thus assured. As one of the first wave of broadcasters in a self operated studio, she was also a pioneer. Quite some lady."