From Radio Today:

Former Piccadilly Radio programme controller and BBC local radio editor Mike Briscoe has died, aged 65.

Tributes are being paid on his Facebook wall from colleagues at the BBC and commercial radio.

Mike worked at BBC Radio Lancashire, Radio Manchester (GMR) and on Northwest Tonight between 1992 and 2005, and before that he was Programme Controller and Head of News at Piccadilly Radio from 1983 to 1992. At one point he was BBC North West’s news-gathering editor and was responsible for setting up “The Games” – a temporary FM radio station for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Mike died suddenly on Wednesday evening from a heart attack at his home in Spain with his wife Laura. His last Facebook page was just after 1pm the same day.

BBC colleague and friend Tony Worgan said: “Gosh, like many of you I was exchanging messages with him a matter of days ago. What a lovely man: funny, super intelligent, generous.”

Radio Wave’s Andy Mitchell: “I am shocked and saddened…we were only having a good natter on here the other night…..RIP Mike….you gave me my first gig at Piccadilly 25 years ago. Condolences to Laura.”

In an internal BBC email, BBC North West Editor ot TV Michelle Mayman said: “He was a great laugh and a hugely important person in our newsroom. I know many of us will miss him (and his facebook updates from his sunny home).