BBC radio presenter dies in car crash on family holiday

Telegraph

5 days ago

A BBC journalist has been killed in a car crash on a family holiday in Canada.
Lynda Shahwan, 53, died in the crash while in North America with her husband and their two sons.
She had recently worked as a co-presenter with Terry Walton, the Radio 2 gardener, on his 'Plotcast' podcast, having been employed by BBC Radio Wales for more than 25 years.
On the podcast, Shahwan, who comes from Heath, Cardiff, and her co-host 'explored the joys of allotment life on a Rhondda hillside'.
Mr Walton, who is a regular gardener on the Jeremy Vine show, said Shahwan was taken 'far too soon.'
'My last two years of working with Lynda on the Plotcast were the most fulfilling and cherished broadcasting I have done,' he said.
'Our chemistry and her creative talent made every episode a gem of gardening knowledge. Such fun whilst still being very informative.
'Her professionalism and easy-going manner made every recording a pleasure and brought the best out of us both.
'We became true friends and after recording we would both relax and discuss many aspects of life,' he added.
Carolyn Hitt, the head of Radio Wales, said: 'Lynda was a very special person.
'Since she began her career with Radio Wales in 1999 she made a brilliant impact on the station, on and off air, working across almost all of our output.
'For several years, Lynda was Roy Noble's fellow presenter on his morning show, where he affectionately christened her 'The Lily from Caerphilly'.
She added: 'More recently, Lynda was back in front of the mic once more, this time with Terry Walton, co-presenting and producing her fantastic passion project the Plotcast – just one of the many examples of her creativity and innovation.
'We are all devastated at Radio Wales at the sudden loss of our much-loved colleague and friend and our hearts go out to Lynda's husband Sharif, who is also a much-loved colleague, their two sons and all their family and friends.'
Roy Noble, the BBC broadcaster, added: 'Our feelings of condolence go to Lynda's family, Sharif and the boys.
'It was a sudden, sudden loss to them and something we in Radio Wales cannot process.
'Her legacy will be always, always remembered.'