Philip Brady OAM: Broadcast legend dies, aged 85, after ‘terrible cancer diagnosis’, heartbroken tributes flow

Broadcast legend Philip Brady OAM has died, aged 85, just over a week after he retired from his decades-long career at 3AW.

The Victorian station announced the “much loved” host’s death on Tuesday morning, with 3AW Mornings host Tom Elliott breaking the “very sad” news to listeners.

He said while he was saddened by the news, it was “not a surprise” because the 85-year-old — “a dear friend and colleague” — had revealed in confidence that he received a “terrible cancer diagnosis” last year.

“He said he was riddled with cancer and he didn’t expect to last long,” Elliott told listeners on Tuesday.

“So for me, this is not a surprise but it is very sad because I don’t think we’ll see the likes of Philip Brady again; someone who could do it all.

“He was good on TV, good on radio, he could make people laugh, he can talk about things seriously if he had to, he was always positive, he had a wonderful energy, always had a smile on his face...”

Brady was a stalwart on 3AW for decades and was most recently the co-host of the station’s Remember When program alongside Simon Owens. He appeared on the program until January 12 and announced his retirement from radio on February 2.

Owens said his co-host of 29-years was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on December 5, which had metastasised to the liver; and although he declined “quickly”, the veteran refused to let his audience know about his illness.

“He was amazing with his audience, his devotion to his audience was astonishing and that’s why I won’t say we’ve lied to anyone over the last two months,” Owens said.

“He went downhill very quickly but the one thing he refused do to was let the audience know because... in his words: ‘I’m here to entertain them, buddy, not to bring them down’. And he just insisted right until the very last day that we don’t discuss his illness.”

“But he had said to me: ‘Oh, once I’m gone, buddy, it’s a free for all, tell them everything, I want them to know everything’.”

Owens said Brady was diagnosed as the listeners’ “Christmas cards started coming in”, but he “didn’t have the energy to write replies... and that just absolutely tore him up”. He promised the ailing broadcaster to write back on his behalf.

“No piece of fan mail should ever go unanswered, that’s how much he loved his audience,” he said.

“Even up until these last couple of days I’ve been going to visit him... reading him his text messages and he would dictate the reply hen he became two weak to hold a mobile phone.”

Brady’s “extraordinary” broadcast and entertainment career spanned more than 67 years.

He was first hired as a booth announcer by Channel Nine in 1958. He was then recruited to join comedy legend Graham Kennedy’s ensemble, including working closely with fellow entertainment icon Bert Newton.

He went on to host a variety of game shows in the 1960s and 1970s — including Concentration, Everybody’s Talking, Moneymakers, Junior Moneymakers, Casino Ten, Get the Message and Password.

Brady first joined 3AW in the 1970s as the “weekend music man”. He returned to the station on December 23, 1990 with Remember When, which he hosted with Bruce Mansfield.

The next year, the pair took over the weekend program, Nightline, and cemented themselves as a legendary radio duo. Brady led the program until its end in 2019.

3AW Station Manager Stephen Beers said in a statement: “Phil was a great friend to many, truly loving his work on air and helping so many listeners and colleagues with advice, companionship and friendship. Phil will be greatly missed by all at 3AW.”

Tom Elliott fielded tributes and condolences from listeners on Tuesday morning.

“Vale Phil,” he said.

“I will miss you, your family obviously will miss you, everybody here at AW will miss you.

“I think most importantly the audience that you did so much to inform, to entertain, to make laugh, the millions of people over the years who have listened to you, Phil, they will miss you, too.”