Beloved broadcaster passes away suddenly
<p dir="ltr">New Zealand radio host Bruce Russell passed away suddenly on Sunday night, shortly before he was due to start his shift on-air for Newstalk ZB.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The talk-radio network confirmed the news of Russell’s passing at the station’s office in central Auckland in a statement on Monday morning.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Bruce Russell, one of our long-time Newstalk ZB hosts, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully last night,” Newstalk ZB said in its <a href="https://twitter.com/timmie_bee/status/1518532862664114177" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Bruce was a wonderful team member and a talented host and newsreader who brought joy to our audiences for many years.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“The conversations he had on-air brought him loyalty from listeners young and old both throughout the night and on his Saturday night show.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“His inimitable personality in the newsroom and in the studio would always entertain his colleagues too.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“Our thoughts are with Bruce’s family at this sad time.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Absolutely heart broken at the news of Bruce Russell's passing. He was an absolute genius, and one of the funniest people I've ever meet and worked with. He would let me sit in on his overnight show, while I was a journalist at NewstalkZB and I loved his humour and knowledge. <a href="https://t.co/L5nFohGVHM">pic.twitter.com/L5nFohGVHM</a></p>
<p>— Chris Lynch (@chrislynchmedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrislynchmedia/status/1518364767777624064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Tim Dower, a long-time colleague of Mr Russell, described him as a “great mate” while announcing the news on-air on Monday, per the <em><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/long-time-newstalk-zb-host-bruce-russell-dies/7DGFTLOALT5XCKEAFQCHMXYIMA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a></em>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I know this news will be very upsetting for many of our listeners, especially those who have been loyal to Bruce over so many years and there are so many of you,” Mr Dower said.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-63fa7cd9-7fff-4a85-3ce0-0125598941b3"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">“He brought a particularly sharp sense of humour to his work and to his workplace. He always wanted to give it the very best he could, he was an absolute professional. He loved his work, just loved it.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shocked and deeply sad about the news my dear friend, valued colleague and old-school broadcaster Bruce Russell died last night. So many memories, a wealth of information, and always quick to find wicked fun in everything. Sincere condolences to Lorna and Andrew. <a href="https://t.co/GUzbzQ78WZ">pic.twitter.com/GUzbzQ78WZ</a></p>
<p>— Joe Gilfillan (@JoeGNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeGNZ/status/1518332072405831680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">The radio station also halted its usual programming and opened the lines for listeners to pay tribute to Mr Russell.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Colleagues, both former and present, and fans have also taken to social media to share tributes to Mr Russell, who was in his early 70s when he died.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I am devastated,” sports broadcaster Miles Davis wrote. “Bruce was one of a kind and a colleague for over 20 years.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-cbec1e9e-7fff-634f-5663-05b87b9280d4"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">“Always made me laugh with his dry sense of humour and helped me a lot with his advice. I shall miss him as will his audience. My thoughts with family. Rest easy my old friend.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Many memories of Bruce Russell, but when I truly realised his greatness was a night in 2020: I was jolted awake by a big quake, so on went ZB. Caller after terrified caller, calmed by Bruce’s measured and empathetic way. Masterclass. There for all the lonely people. RIP you icon <a href="https://t.co/r4zILWUnIx">pic.twitter.com/r4zILWUnIx</a></p>
<p>— Lorna Subritzky (@lornaexplorernz) <a href="https://twitter.com/lornaexplorernz/status/1518420204568518656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">“Bruce Russell was the most uniquely hilarious, individual person I’ve ever known,” sports reported Guy Heveldt tweeted. “He would turn a dull day into the most enjoyable time with his quick wit and personality. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“But also a very supportive man who backed me a lot.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“Rest easy Bruce, you’ll never be forgotten.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bruce Russell was the single most enigmatic, eccentric, hilarious, never boring colleague I’ve ever had. So sad to wake up to the news of his death. He brought so much joy & companionship to his thousands of listeners. & for his workmates, nobody livened up an office like Bruce. <a href="https://t.co/alz5GohUe4">pic.twitter.com/alz5GohUe4</a></p>
<p>— Tim Roxborogh (@TimRoxborogh) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimRoxborogh/status/1518352426390396928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Newstalk ZB host Tim Beveridge said Mr Russell was the fabric of the station and estimated his colleague had more than 100,000 on-air conversations in his career.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“His death has left a hole in many people’s lives, including his treasured listeners, for whom he was not just a talkback host, but also a friend, counsellor and companion,” Mr Beveridge <a href="https://twitter.com/timmie_bee/status/1518532862664114177" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on Twitter.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After starting out writing commercials, Mr Russell’s time as a broadcaster saw him work across the country “doing every shift under the sun” at community stations, according to his ZB bio.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He is survived by his wife Lorna and son Andrew.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>
