Colin Somerville: Tributes paid to former Evening News showbiz editor and Radio Forth producer

Tributes have been paid to former Edinburgh Evening News entertainment editor and Forth FM presenter and producer Colin Somerville.

Colin was described as 'a huge influence and champion of Scottish popular music'.

He passed away peacefully last night his children announced.

Colin spent four years between 1994 and 1998 as the Evening News entertainment editor and went on to become a freelance music writer for the Johnston Press titles for almost 14 years.

He also spent time as a music controller and presenter on Forth FM as well as six years presenting for BBC.

His children, Joe, Jake and Rachel Somerville announced the news on Facebook on Thursday evening.

In the post, his son Joe wrote: “Jake, Rachel and I are heartbroken to announce that our Dad passed away this evening peacefully.

“We appreciate that he was a man with many friends and you all would want to pass on your messages in some way in these awful circumstances that we regrettably can’t be together. We couldn’t think of a way to break such horrible news.

“We will very much miss his stories, he never seemed to run out of a wild adventure to recall.

“We appreciate this will be hard news for a lot to hear and we would appreciate any stories people wished to share.

“Please look after yourselves. We will miss you dad.”

Euan McGrory, editor of the Edinburgh Evening News said Colin will be “greatly missed”.

He said: “Colin was a great champion of Scottish pop music and had endless entertaining tales from his encounters and friendships with everyone from Prince to Fife’s Jackie Leven.

“Alongside his outstanding work in broadcasting, he will be known and treasured by many of our readers as a result of his long and distinguished association with our titles, particularly 15 years reviewing albums for Scotland on Sunday.

“He was much-loved and will be greatly missed by his former colleagues as well as everyone who loves great Scottish music.”

Former Simple Minds manager Bruce Findlay also paid tribute to him on Twitter.

I am very sad to hear Colin Somerville has died.” He wrote, “Colin gave me a Sunday slot on Radio Forth (Bruce’s Sunday Joint) back in 1990 and then again a few years later with a 4 nights a week slot on Scot FM. He was a huge influence and champion of Scottish popular music. RIP Colin.”