Why was Roman Kemp not on Capital FM? DJ pays tribute to friend and producer Joe Lyons following his death

Capital FM presenter Roman Kemp was off air last week due the death of close friend and producer Joe Lyons.

The radio host took time off the show from last Tuesday (4 August), alongside co-stars Sian Welby and Sonny Jay, who all came off air midway through their segment, after being informed of the news.

When did Roman Kemp return to Capital FM?

Capital presenter Will Manning took over the rest of last Tuesday's show, with Rob Howard and Lauren Layfield covering Kemp and his co-workers for the rest of last week.

However, the I’m a Celebrity star returned to the radio show on Monday morning (10 August).

What happened to Roman’s friend Joe Lyons?

Joe Lyons, who worked on the show as a producer, died last Tuesday (4 August).

Kemp returned to the show on Monday 10 August and paid tribute to his friend alongside colleagues Sian Welby and Sonny Jay.

Struggling to hold back tears, Kemp said: “Here on Capital Breakfast we are a massive family … and we wanted to share with you some really sad news.

“Last Tuesday, very suddenly, we lost one of our best friends, my best friend and our colleague, Producer Joe.

“He was not just part of the Capital Breakfast family, but a loved member of the whole team. Everybody that works here at Capital [is] completely obviously devastated and we’re trying to process this all together.”

Kemp explained how Joe “was with me right from my very first show. He taught me everything. I don’t know sitting in a radio studio without him. It is really weird.”

Welby said she loved listening to him singing along to songs on the radio, but never getting the words right, and Jay called him "the best guy".

BBC Radio 1 DJ, Greg James, responded to the video of Kemp’s tribute, writing, “This is unbearably sad news. I’m so sorry to hear this. Incredibly brave to go on air and do such an amazing tribute. Please look after yourselves. Sending all my love.”

‘My special, magical, beautiful friend’

Vick Hope, former Capital FM radio host, who worked alongside Kemp, also paid tribute to her friend and former colleague.

She wrote on Instagram: “Our Joe. My JoeJoe. My special, magical, beautiful friend. We signed off every message with ‘I love you, buddy’, and yet I’m worried I still didn’t tell you enough.

"I really do love you, bud, so so much. We all do. I hope you know that. We are so lucky to have known you. The world is a better place for having had you in it. And now the stars have gained an extraordinary gift in you.

"Look at everything you made, Joe. Everything you achieved, what you built, who you inspired.”