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Radio Ulster presenter Hugo Duncan earns place in Hall of Fame

BBC Hugo Duncan smiling widely, holding a picture of himself on which are written the words IMRO AWARDS HALL OF FAME HUGO DUNCANBBC

BBC Radio Ulster presenter Hugo Duncan has been added into the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) Radio Awards Hall of Fame 2024.

The County Tyrone presenter is celebrating 26 years of broadcasting on his popular daytime country music show.

Through his show "Uncle Hugo" interacts daily with thousands of of people through calls, texts and social media engagement.

Speaking to BBC News NI, Mr Duncan said it was a “great honour and great privilege” to be recognised in this way.

Eleven primary school students on the left alongside Hugo Duncan on the right. He is speaking into a microphone as he broadcasts live from St Peter's School as as they celebrate the school's centenary as part of BBC Music Day. The pupils are wearing a burgundy sweater, white shirt and black trousers with trainers. Mr Duncan is wearing a white shirt, black blazer and black shoes.
Mr Duncan broadcasting live from St Peter's Primary School to celebrate BBC Music Day in 2015

“I class myself as a singer who just plays some records and it’s just such a privilege to go into people’s homes and people’s ears every day,” he said.

“When I go on air, I bear in mind that there are people who may not have anyone near them that whole day and I want to put a smile in people’s faces.

“I like to make people happy in the afternoon, or annoy them, because one way or another, I am taking their mind off their problems and I think you can hear that when I am on the radio.”

Mr Duncan was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Northern Ireland Country Music Awards.

The "wee man from Strabane", as he is known, has also raised tens of thousands annually for the BBC Children In Need charity campaign through his "Hugo-thons".

Sharing his joy of radio, each year he invites listeners and service users from adult care homes to the BBC studio to show how shows are made and to give them their own mini-show recording.

Alongside radio, as an Irish showband star Mr Duncan still performs all over Ireland.