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Tributes have been pouring in since news of the death of US talk show host Jerry Springer, including from British stars who knew the TV personality well.
Among them was presenter Trisha Goddard, who rose to fame in the late 1990s with her ITV chat show Trisha before crossing the pond, where she met Jerry.
The pair shared a close friendship, as Trisha revealed in an emotional tribute today after news broke that the star had passed away at the age of 79.
“I know everyone is talking about him in his talk show host guise, but we knew him as a gentleman, a very, very sweet person who showed me a lot of kindness when I came from the UK.”
The British star revealed that she and Jerry shared an assistant and have known each other for over 20 years.
British talk show star Trisha paid tribute to Jerry Springer after his death was announced today
Trisha revealed that she and Jerry shared an assistant and have known each other for over 20 years
The Jerry Springer Show host died just months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his family revealed Thursday.
Trisha told Sky News: ‘Just sat on the phone crying, we shared a PA… it’s like a family. He was so good to me, I knew him personally.
“One time when I was stressed, he gave me a pink fuzzy nightgown and slippers that I still have
Trisha explained that they first met in 1999 in New Orleans, as both worked as part of the NBC Universal broadcaster.
“It’s a family, the NBC Universal media center is just around the corner from where I live now in Connecticut.
“He was nice, he was funny. He used to say, ‘Goddard, you’re taking it too seriously! You care too much about people!’
She said she would tease him in return; “You don’t care enough about people!”
In another tribute, Piers Morgan said he loved working with Jerry Springer and cracking jokes, writing, “Jeez, this sucks. TV icon and such an intelligent, warm, funny man.
“I loved working with him (on America’s Got Talent), loved hanging out with him (we lived in the same hotel for 2 years), loved arguing with him (he loved his politics), loved everything about him. Stripping.’
A statement from his family confirmed that he passed away “peacefully” at his home in Chicago after being diagnosed with cancer
Springer called it “escapist entertainment,” while others saw the show as contributing to a weakening of American social values.
Springer first entered the political arena as an aide in Robert F. Kennedy’s ill-fated 1968 presidential campaign
Springer was a judge on America’s Got Talent along with Morgan and Sharon Osbourne.
Morgan described him as “our great friend” and said the group “had a great time together.”
Family spokesperson Jene Galvin said: ‘Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he attempted, whether it was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a picture or a word.
“He is irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”
On his Twitter profile, Springer jokingly declared himself as “talk show host, ringmaster of the end of civilization.”
The former mayor of Chicago – who went on to become an internationally recognizable broadcaster – had strong ties to the UK.
Jerry Springer revisits his first North London home, at Belvedere Court
A young Jerry Springer, born in London after his parents fled Nazi Germany in 1939
He was born in one London underground station in 1944 during the Blitz.
His parents, who were German Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany, moved to East Finchley in north London in 1939, and Jerry was born Gerald Norman Springer in 1944.
On the day he was born, Richard and Margot were huddled together on the busy Highgate platform, which had been used as a bomb shelter.
He lived at Belvedere Court for the first few years of his life before moving to the United States in January 1949.
Jerry appeared in the BBC documentary Who Do You Think You Are? in his later years, visiting his first home.
He brought his American success back to the UK and launched two UK talk shows, one for ITV in 2000 and another for Channel 5 in the same year.