Fans of the legendary singer-songwriter Chris Rea were moved to tears on Tuesday as the BBC paid a heartfelt on-air tribute following his death at the age of 74.
A Poignant On-Air Moment
The tribute came just before a pre-recorded festive edition of Animal Park on BBC One, presented by Ben Fogle and Kate Humble. The programme opened with Rea's timeless Christmas anthem, 'Driving Home for Christmas'. Sensing the moment's significance, continuity announcer Duncan Newmarch addressed viewers directly.
"First on BBC One, Chris Rea, is very much on our minds this morning," he said solemnly before the titles rolled. Newmarch later explained on X, formerly Twitter, that upon discovering the show's opening track, he felt compelled to say something.
An Outpouring of Emotion from Viewers
The brief but powerful acknowledgement resonated deeply with the audience. Many took to social media to express their emotions. One viewer wrote, 'Oh that made me cry. Very touching', while another praised it as "very suitable and appropriate". Others described the 11-second tribute as "clever" and "beautiful".
Rea's death was announced on Monday by his wife Joan and their daughters Josie and Julia. A statement confirmed the Middlesbrough-born star passed away peacefully in hospital following a short illness, surrounded by his family.
A Legacy Forged Through Adversity
Chris Rea's life and career were marked by both incredible success and serious health battles. He wrote his iconic festive hit, which re-enters the UK Singles Chart every year, during a low period while on the dole and banned from driving.
His health struggles were profound. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 33, leading to major surgery. He later lived with diabetes, requiring seven insulin injections a day, and suffered a stroke in 2016. Despite this, he continued to create music, releasing albums in 2017 and 2019.
His final social media post on Sunday featured an image of a car on a snowy road with the sign 'Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories', captioning it with lyrics from his famous song.
The BBC's simple, respectful gesture proved that for his legion of fans, Chris Rea's music and memory will forever be a part of the British festive season.
