Tributes pour in for Dame Jenni Murray, BBC Radio presenter and former host of Woman's Hour, after she dies aged 75

Tributes have been paid to beloved broadcaster, Dame Jenni Murray, who has died at the age of 75.

Murray had been the host of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour for over 30 years, having joined the programme in 1987 before her departure in 2020, making her its longest-serving presenter.

BBC director-general Tim Davie led the tributes, describing Murray as "a broadcasting icon" who "created a safe space for her audiences thanks to her warmth, intelligence and courage".

"We shall all miss her terribly," he said in a statement. "Her legacy endures in the countless conversations she started, the many issues she championed and the lives she touched."

Mohit Bakaya, controller at BBC Radio 4 and director of BBC speech audio, echoed Davie's sentiments, describing Murray as "a formidable voice in British broadcasting who was warm, fearless and beloved by listeners".

Bakaya added: "During her decades at Woman’s Hour, she helped shape the national conversation with intelligence, rigour and a remarkable ability to connect with audiences. Jenni leaves an indelible legacy on generations of listeners. We are profoundly grateful for her outstanding contribution to Radio 4, and she will be deeply missed."

Mark Urban, a columnist for The Sunday Times, shared on X: "Very sorry to see that Jenni Murray has died - as a trainee producer I was dispatched to BBC Southampton in 1984 and worked with her in the newsroom.

"She was whip smart, always cut through the BS, and her journalism was guided by empathy."

Former Labour Party deputy leader Baroness Harriet Harman also paid tribute to the broadcaster, writing on X: "Impossible to overstate the importance of Jenni Murray to the movement of women that changed our politics, economy & our society; that changed our lives. She was the broadcasting wing of the women’s movement. We all owe her. RIP."

Talent management firm Knight Ayton described Murray as a "true professional and a pioneer", with a spokesperson for the firm saying (via Sky News): "We are very sad to learn of the death of Dame Jenni Murray. We started representing Jenni in 2020 as she was leaving Woman's Hour after a long career at Radio 4.

"True to her spirit of fun, she surprised many by taking part in ITV's The Real Full Monty to great acclaim the same year. The announcement of her participation made front page news. Her reason for taking part was simple. To encourage more women to check for breast cancer.

"Last year she returned to the BBC to present a series for Radio 3, Jenni Murray's Women Composers. We loved working with Jenni, a true professional and pioneer.

"She interviewed every prime minister of the last 30 years, she was as comfortable with high-powered politicians as with the grieving parents of Madeleine McCann, and the first Hollywood star she encountered was Bette Davis.

"The late foreign correspondent Charles Wheeler described Jenni as having 'the most beautiful voice on the radio - ever'."