Top News

Former BBC Radio Merseyside host Ken O'Flaherty died on Thursday, February 26, aged 82, with the news only now being confirmed. No cause of death was revealed and the news was shared in a moving Facebook post on behalf of his children which read: "It's with great sadness that I am writing to inform you all that my father Ken passed away Thursday morning. He will be sorely missed as a husband, father, brother and friend. "He lived an incredible life and touched so many, may his memory live on through us all. A videolink for his funeral will be posted here at a later date."

The Liverpool born star moved to Australia which led to his appearances on the Bushwacker Club on The Weekend Inn show every Saturday night for 20 years, alongside his friend and co-host Billy Maher. He featured as the Australian correspondent for the Bushwackers Club Down Under which aired at midnight every Saturday night.

Alongside his radio work Ken was also a musician and played in a band called Blackthorne who had several high profile gigs including supporting Irish folk legends The Fureys in the 90s.

Billy Maher paid tribute to his friend with a touching poen Titled RIP-KEN O'FLAHERTY which was shared his daughter Siobhan Maher Kennedy who gushed: "A lovely tribute from my dad Billy Maher to his pal Ken O'Flaherty.

Ken passed away recently and shared so many great times with dad as the ex pat/Australian correspondent for Bushwackers Club Down Under on dad's BBC Merseyside show The Weekend Inn .

"I love these childhood memories that they had in common growing up in city centre Liverpool with St George's Hall their actual playground . It's important to keep these memories and the history . Lovely tribute dad!"

The poem read: "He was born close by The Adelphi, he knew The Bull Ring well; His playground was The City Centre, that left him with great tales to tell; He prepared for the life ahead with the people of our city, to us there's no better way; With a background of St, Georges Hall, Wellingtons Column and the Mersey Ferrries Never bettered to this very day;

"He loved music, poetry, and reading books as he joined in the Liverpool Sound; Until the time came to head for Australia, as a British Pom for ten pounds; He was made very welcome down in The Antipodes, they called him KennyO; Loving his many talents, his music and business sense they just gathered around him and watched them all grow; He never forgot where he came from, as good a scouser as any, he kept in touch all the while

"He never stopped listening to RADIO MERSEYSIDE as it always produced a smile; LITTLE BILLY MAHER'S WEEKEND INN was his favourite in those days; A programme for local people, about local people and their local ways; YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD NIGHT OUT BY STAYING IN, Billy used to say, and it gave Ken an idea

"Why not have a weekly get-together, live on air, Kenny in Australia and Billy in Liverpool right here! THE BUSHWACKER CLUB went live on air at midnight every Saturday night on BBC RADIO MERSEYSIDE; It ran for over 20 years to everyones delight!; Many thanks are due to Ken O'Flaherty, your friend and mine Kenny; RIP, A true friend and scouser supreme for memories of a wonderful radio show!