Radio presenters Tony Blackburn and Ken Bruce are among those who have paid tribute to BBC Radio producer and PopMaster quiz co-creator Phil Swern, who has died at the age of 76.
The official account for PopMaster shared: "Sadly today, we said goodbye to Phil Swern, the Collector, for many years the driving force behind PopMaster’s content."
Swern, who was born in Ealing, west London, produced a string of radio programmes including shows for BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2.
Blackburn was one of the first people to pay tribute to his "dear friend", while Bruce described Swern's passing as the “saddest of days”.
Blackburn wrote on Facebook: "I am so sad to say that my dear friend of over 60 years Phil 'The Collector' Swern passed away yesterday after a long illness.
"He was very respected in the music business for his music knowledge and professionalism, but above all he was a lovely kind and funny man.
"I was so glad I saw him and his wife Lynsey on Friday and was able to have a final chat with him. He passed away at home with his wife Lynsey who has been at his side looking after him. My love goes out to her and his family we will all miss him very much."
"I was going the record fairs, shops all over the country," he said explaining his love for records stemmed from his childhood when he used to be taken to stores "as a treat" by his parents every Saturday.
Swern also came up with questions for PopMaster, which featured on BBC Radio 2's Ken Bruce Show.
Posting his tribute on social media Bruce wrote: "It’s the saddest of days as my great friend Phil Swern has passed away.
"Phil was a brilliantly inventive man with a passion for music.
"He had a vast career as a record and radio producer, deviser of TV formats and as the guiding light and co-creator of PopMaster.
"He was a one-man fount of all pop knowledge, starting his record collection as a boy and still displaying the same enthusiasm into his seventies."
BBC Radio producer and co-creator of PopMaster, Phil Swern, has tragically passed away at the age of 76. The BBC Radio 2 star's passing has prompted a wave of tributes from his famous friends on social media.
Ken Bruce took to Twitter today to express his sorrow, stating: "It's the saddest of days as my great friend Phil Swern has passed away. Phil was a brilliantly inventive man with a passion for music. He had a vast career as a record and radio producer, deviser of tv formats and as the guiding light and co-creator of Popmaster. (1/2)."
"He was a one-man fount of all pop knowledge, starting his record collection as a boy and still displaying the same enthusiasm into his seventies. Without him, there would be no Popmaster, on radio or tv. He leaves a giant gap in my life and in the lives of so many. (2/2)."
The official Popmaster account also shared their condolences, saying: "Sadly today, we said goodbye to Phil Swern, the Collector for many years the driving force behind Popmaster's content. His wife Lyndsey was at his side. His favourite song was Nat King Cole's, What a Wonderful World. We will miss our gentle man."
Tony Blackburn took to social media to announce the heartbreaking news, posting on Facebook: "I am so sad to say that my dear friend of over 60 years Phil The. Collector, Swern passed away yesterday after a long illness. He was very respected in the music business for his music knowledge and professionalism, but above all he was a lovely kind and funny man. I was so glad I saw him and his wife Lynsey on Friday and was able to have a final chat with him. He passed away At home with his wife Lynsey who has been at his side looking after him. My love goes out to her and his family we will all miss him very much.", reports the Mirror.
He also shared his grief on Twitter, saying: "I am very sad to say that my dear friend of over 60 years and producer of @BBCRadio2 Sound of the Sixties passed away yesterday afternoon after a long illness. I am so glad I saw him and his wife Lynsey last Friday. Phil, the Collector, Swern will be missed by us all."
Moreover, from 2007 until last year, he dedicated his efforts to producing Sounds of the 60s for Radio 2. His creative prowess also saw him devising questions for Radio 2's Ken Bruce's PopMaster quiz.
Phil's expertise extended beyond BBC radio; he had a stint at Capital Radio fronting the Sunday afternoon quiz show You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet and was part of the launch crew at Capital Gold. His most recent appearance was on Boom Radio during the last Bank Holiday Monday, showcasing Phil Swern's Hidden Gems drawn from his extensive music collection.
A titan of the radio industry, Phil Swern left an indelible mark with his work on iconic shows such as Sounds of the 60s alongside Brian Matthew and his tenure at Pick of the Pops on Radio 1 during the late '80s and early '90s. He also took the helm of the show again on BBC Radio 2 from 1997 right up until 2023, reports the Mirror.
In addition, from 2007 until last year, he poured his heart into producing Sounds of the 60s for Radio 2. His creative prowess also saw him devising questions for Ken Bruce's PopMaster quiz on Radio 2.
But Phil's expertise wasn't confined to the BBC; he had a spell at Capital Radio presenting the Sunday afternoon quiz show You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet and was part of the launch team at Capital Gold. His most recent appearance was on Boom Radio during the last Bank Holiday Monday, where he showcased Phil Swern's Hidden Gems from his extensive music collection.
Away from the radio, Phil produced chart-topping records, wrote music books, contributed to television and proudly owned every UK top 40 hit since the charts began in 1952. In recognition of his significant influence and dedication, Phil was honoured with a BASCA Gold Badge Award in 2010, cementing his legacy in the music industry.
Many of his celebrity pals including Tony Blackburn (R) and Ken Bruce (L) were the first to pay tribute to their 'great friend' after hearing of his shock death.
Ken shared his devastation of Phil's passing and shared a heartfelt message on X.
Tony followed Ken's emotional message.
PopMaster's official X account announced the news to fans on Sunday morning with an emotional tribute.
Beyond Phil's career at the BBC, he fronted Capital Radio's Sunday afternoon quiz show You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet.
He was also part of the launch at Capital Gold.
Before his death, Phil appeared on Boom Radio on Bank Holiday monday last week, showcasing his vast record collection.
He said: 'I don’t know if it’s the biggest collection in the world, it’s hard to say as there are so many collectors out there, but it is probably one of the biggest collections in Europe.
'I remember the last record I needed was Diana Decker’s Poppa Piccolino. I eventually found it at a car-boot fair that my parents had dragged me along to.
'There was a man with a box of records that I flipped through and there it was – it was amazing. He wanted 90p for it and I offered him 50. I would have paid £90 if he’d asked me.'
The veteran BBC DJ, 81, broke the news of radio producer Phil Swern's passing on Sunday.
Tony told how Phil, dubbed "The Collector," had suffered a "long illness" prior to his death - yet reassured fans his wife was by his side during his final farewell.
In an emotional statement he said: "I am so sad to say that my dear friend of over 60 years Phil The Collector Swern passed away yesterday after a long illness.
"He was very respected in the music business for his music knowledge and professionalism, but above all he was a lovely kind and funny man.
"I was so glad I saw him and his wife Lynsey on Friday and was able to have a final chat with him. He passed away At home with his wife Lynsey who has been at his side looking after him.
"My love goes out to her and his family we will all miss him very much."
Phil worked on Sounds of the 60s with Brian Matthew and Tony.
It was on the show where he earned the nickname of The Collector.
He was also the "driving force" behind the content on Ken Bruce's hit radio show turned TV programme, Popmaster.
Ex BBC Radio 2 DJ Ken, 73, took to his page on X to write: "It’s the saddest of days as my great friend Phil Swern has passed away.
"Phil was a brilliantly inventive man with a passion for music. He had a vast career as a record and radio producer, deviser of tv formats and as the guiding light and co-creator of Popmaster.
"He was a one-man fount of all pop knowledge, starting his record collection as a boy and still displaying the same enthusiasm into his seventies.
"Without him, there would be no Popmaster, on radio or tv. He leaves a giant gap in my life and in the lives of so many."
Popmaster, which has changed to an on-screen format in Popmaster TV, then uploaded a tribute of its own.
Its page on X put: "Sadly today, we said goodbye to Phil Swern, the Collector for many years the driving force behind Popmaster’s content.
"His wife Lyndsey was at his side.
"His favourite song was Nat King Coles, What a Wonderful World. We will miss our gentle man."
Ken was able to take the format to Channel 4 after he left Radio 2 this year to present a show on commercial station Greatest Hits.
He said: “After all these years we are finally bringing PopMaster to the telly, where we’ll be challenging music lovers from around the country.
"I can’t wait to get started and find out whether I might have a face for TV after all.”
Ken also revealed that he and producer Phil tried to encourage the BBC to screen PopMaster, but the broadcaster was not interested.
Meanwhile, Phil, who has a BASCA Gold Badge Award for his work in the music industry, also produced Pick of the Pops for Radio 1 in the Eighties.
He also worked on Capital Radio show, You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet.
Just last week, he was broadcasting his own show, Hidden Treasures, on Boom Radio.
A representative from BBC Radio 2 also commented on the loss, saying: "Everyone at Radio 2 is saddened to hear the news that Phil Swern has passed away. He was an extremely talented producer whose career at Radio 2 spanned many years. He was a much-loved colleague with an unparalleled knowledge of music. Our thoughts are with his family."
