Express FM radio presenter Adrian Collis passes away as colleagues mourn the loss of passionate music lover and "big family man"

Adrian Collis was a mainstay of Express FM and was known for The Soft Rock Show which he presented with close friend and colleague Geoff Dorset for more than a decade. He passed away suddenly on Saturday, October 21.

Listeners will be able to hear the final show recorded by Adrian this evening (October 23) on Express FM at 7.00pm

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In a post annoucing the tragic news, a spokesperson for the station said: “It is with immense sadness that we have to inform you that our friend and colleague Adrian James Collis passed away suddenly on Saturday.

"Ade was an Express FM super fan and had presented The Soft Rock Show for us with his close friend and Radio partner Geoff Dorsett for 14 years. This is the longest running show we have. A brilliant show.

"More than that, Ade was a big family man and someone who we often shared many conversations with about Radio, his record label, a mutual love of music and wine and the 100’s of amazing music guests the show had over the years.

"Ade’s love of Express was extraordinarily large, as was our love for him and his work with us.

"He will be truly missed. We hope you will join us in sharing in our condolences to Ade’s family, friends and loved ones and his dear colleague Geoff, with whom we have great sympathy for the loss of one of our finest hosts.”

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Posting on social media, Portsmouth Guildhall chief executive Andy Grays decribed spending time in the Express FM studio with Ade and Geoff as “always a wonderful experience” and described the late broadcaster as “a music man through and through”.

In response to a post on Adrian’s Facebook page – made by his son James – hundreds shared their condolences and many described him as “a lovely man”.

You can tune into Adrian’s final Express FM broadcast tonight from 7.00pm to 9.00pm by tuning in to 93.7 FM or searching for the station on DAB.