‘Powerhouse’ Broadcaster Candy Devine Dies at 85

Candy Devine, a former presenter for Downtown Radio and a celebrated singer, has passed away in her native Australia at the age of 85. Devine was among the initial presenters recruited for Downtown Radio when the station commenced broadcasting in March 1976. In recognition of her contributions, she received an MBE in 2014 for “Services to Broadcasting and to the Community in Northern Ireland”. Stuart Robinson, Downtown Content Director, issued a statement acknowledging Devine’s impact: “Candy was a household name on radio in Northern Ireland having been with Downtown from launch in 1976 right through until her retirement in 2013.” He further added, “Candy was a great broadcaster and communicator and was an inspiration to many aspiring broadcasters coming up through the radio industry.” Robinson concluded, “Having grown up listening to Candy, it was a great honour to work with her at Downtown.” Don Anderson, Downtown Radio’s first programme controller, engaged Devine when the station launched as one of the UK’s initial 21 commercial stations. Anderson characterized Devine as “quite some lady.” He remarked, “Candy had a warm outgoing vivacious personality which connected immediately with her audience, whether live or on airwaves,” adding, “Her status as one of the best loved Ulster broadcasters was thus assured. “As one of the first wave of broadcasters in a self operated studio, she was also a pioneer.” Robert Skates, Managing Director at R Radio Ltd and a former colleague, described Devine as “simply the best colleague, mentor and friend.” He conveyed his sentiment on Facebook, stating, “There will never be another Candy Devine.” Caroline Fleck, a Downtown Radio presenter, also offered her tribute on social media, calling Devine a “powerhouse, a voice many of us grew up listening to and who was utterly professional in every way.” Fleck added, “They don’t make them like her anymore,” and concluded, “A truly inspiring woman in so many ways. It was an honour to have worked with you, learn from you and call you my friend.” David Blevins, a Sky News correspondent and former colleague, referred to Devine as “a saint of a woman.” He posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “The term ‘dulcet tones’ was invented for her,” and shared, “I’ll cherish the memories of the banter we shared when I read the news on her radio show.” Another former colleague, John Rosborough, also paid tribute to the broadcaster on X. Rosborough noted that Devine was a “wonderful colleague and outstanding broadcaster, she was loved by the local audience and much missed after she returned to Australia to be with her family.” Speaking to BBC News NI, Jill Ellis, who first met Devine and her husband Donald McLeod in 1984, described her as a “proud family woman” and a “lady with many talents.” Ellis elaborated, “Obviously her broadcasting and singing in the cabaret scene are the most obvious but she was also a music teacher, seamstress, amazing cook, artist and great listener.” Ellis, a friend of 40 years, mentioned that she and Devine shared “so many good memories that it would take me all day” to recount them. She recalled a phone conversation with Devine on Monday where they reminisced about a trip taken with their husbands. Ellis stated, “She called my husband ‘Twinnie’ as their birthdays were one day and 26 years apart,” and added, “We celebrated many birthdays together. She would have been 86 on 4 November.” Ellis also shared, “When she lost her husband and decided to go back to Australia she moved in with us for six months, that was a very special time.” She concluded, “She loved people and was deeply interested in everyone she met.” In December 2022, Ellis’s husband presented her with the “best Christmas present ever”: a ticket to Brisbane to visit Devine. Despite Devine being in hospital during the visit, Ellis characterized it as “such a precious time.”