Australian TV and radio personality Jono Coleman dead at 65

Television and radio personality Jono Coleman has died at age 65 after succumbing to a four-year battle with prostate cancer.

A statement released by Coleman’s family indicated the beloved star passed away peacefully in hospital on Friday night.

“Jono and I have been soulmates for close to 40 years. We have been fortunate to live a rich and wonderful life and I have been lucky enough to watch up-close someone with enormous talent and the special gift to make people laugh,” wife Margot said in a statement.

“I will miss him beyond words and with the support of our gorgeous children, Oscar and Emily, and their partners, we will continue to live in the manner he wanted.

“When I asked Jono recently how he wanted to be remembered, he said, ‘For doing a good deed every day.’ Such was the generosity and caring nature of the love of my life.”

Coleman’s son Oscar posted a short tribute to his father on Twitter, immediately attracting dozens of replies from friends and former co-workers of the media personality.

Originally from the UK, Coleman began his career in graphic design before making his start on Australian TV as a presenter on Simon Townsend’s Wonder World in 1979.

In 2015, he was awarded with an OAM for his services to the broadcast media industry and to the community.

He then stepped into the world of radio, hosting a number of shows on Triple J and Triple M before more recently working as a presenter on Studio 10.

“His warm presentation style was always upbeat, full of with and stream of consciousness banter,” the family’s statement read.

Media personality Melissa Hoyer, who knew Coleman well, said his one-of-a-kind presence would be sorely missed.

“Jono’s career was immense – from radio to TV to comedy and within all of that, he hosted a a mega successful radio show in London,” she said.

“As well he had the most divine wife, executive Margot Fitzpatrick and their two gorgeous children Oscar and Emily.

“He adored living in London and being able to basically interview whoever he wanted, you could tell he loved it when he did eventually move back to Australia, near the water at Rushcutters bay and also up at Palm Beach.

“Jono always had time for everyone – no matter where you stood in the pecking order of life. He was a one-off. And he will remain a one off.”

His 16 years in England included radio shows on BBC London, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Radio and a long successful stint at Heart 106.2 from 1998 to 2005.

His Australian TV roles included ‘Have a Go’ (Channel 7), ‘Wavelength’ (Channel 9), the London correspondent for Sunrise and also appeared on Hey, Hey It’s Saturday.

Musically, he released four singles and a comedy album, ‘Jonathan Coleman’s Polka Project”. He even had a song hit the charts in 1984 under the pseudonym Wide Boy Youth, which charted in Perth before he revealed his true identity.