Gary Burgess
13th November 1975 - 1st January 2022
Everyone at Channel 103 and Island FM is saddened to learn that our friend and colleague Gary Burgess has lost his long-fought battle with cancer.
He died peacefully at Jersey Hospice Care on New Year's Day at the age of 46.
Our thoughts are with Gary's husband, Alan, and all of his family and friends at this difficult time.
Do you have any special memories of Gary during his time in the Channel Islands? A book of condolence organised by our friends at ITV Channel Television has been published online. You can leave a tribute by clicking here.
Take a look back over Gary's amazing life, in the Channel Islands and beyond:
- Gary began his broadcasting career in Blackpool in 1992. One of his first jobs was making cups of tea at what was then Radio Wave.
- Gary first moved to the Channel Islands in 2003, taking up a job at Island FM in Guernsey.
- He was never shy about getting stuck in to fun events and promotions, like getting on stage with Breakfast presenter, James Bentley, and the station's mascot, Daniel the Donkey.
- As well as being on air as a presenter, Gary was also the station's Managing Director for a time.
- We're reliably informed that frosted tips were all the rage back in the early-to-mid noughties!
- In 2011, Gary returned to Guernsey and went to work over on the other side, presenting BBC Radio Guernsey's Sunday Phone-In
- He later made the move (to the building next door, in Guernsey's case) to Channel Television where he's been a familiar face on our screens since.
- Gary was often out and about, reporting for the evening's news
- In 2018, Gary and his husband Alan became the first same-sex couple to officially tie the knot in Jersey, after politicians voted to legalise same-sex marriage.
- After going freelance, Gary was able to return to the world of radio - filling in for Peter Mac on the Channel 103 Breakfast Show, presenting Election Night coverage, and even creating 'the Happiest Show of the Week' to get islanders through the Covid-19
- As well as raising more than £30,000 in donations for Macmillan after opening up about his experiences of cancer treatment, Gary became the face of the charity in Jersey
- Gary was even invited back to his old stomping ground in Blackpool to switch on the famous illuminations last year.
- Shortly after retiring from broadcasting, Gary was presented with the Bailiff's Silver Seal. A gift to celebrate his contributions to island life.
