Overview
- Kelly’s family announced that he passed away at his home on Sunday, 26 July 2026, surrounded by his wife Helena and their daughters, as news outlets reported.
- Politicians and broadcasters paid tribute, with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and BBC presenter William Crawley among those remembering his warmth and influence.
- He built a more than four-decade career starting as a part-time GAA reporter at UTV and is best known for hosting the weekly talk show Kelly from 1989 to 2005.
- Kelly had publicly disclosed a cancer diagnosis made around 2016 and discussed treatment in 2018, but his family has not released a new official cause of death.
- His shows helped launch performers and sports stars, produced enduring moments such as the young Rory McIlroy clip, and earned industry honours including induction into the Royal Television Society Hall of Fame.