The BBC faced criticism on Wednesday after it mistakenly reported that the DJ Brian Matthew, who hosted its long-running Sounds of the 60s programme, had died. The broadcaster had been told by his family that he was critically ill.

Less than three hours after announcing the veteran DJ’s death on air, with tributes led by the BBC’s director-general, Tony Hall, the corporation issued an embarrassing clarification. “We were informed by close family and friends that Brian had passed away in the night. They have since been in contact to say that he remains critically ill,” a statement said.

But the statement did not include an apology for the earlier error, and a spokeswoman for Radio 2 said: “The family have their privacy and we respect that, and we support them at this time, but there isn’t anything to add to the statement.”

Asked if the BBC planned to apologise, she said: “We have put out the statement that the family read and were happy with. That is the statement as it stands.”

Matthew is understood to be in hospital with his family. Earlier, BBC Radio 2 played Sounds of the 60s’ signature tune, Foot Tapper by the Shadows, as a tribute to him. It quoted a statement from his family that said: “Our beloved Brian Matthew passed away last night.”

Speaking on his Radio 2 show after Matthew’s death was incorrectly announced, Jeremy Vine told his audience that his colleague was a “much-loved and much-respected Radio 2 presenter”. Hall said Matthew was “an outstanding broadcaster who entertained and engaged millions over generations,” adding that he had a wonderful style of delivery and a real connection with his listeners. Several Radio 2 broadcasters also paid tribute, including Simon Mayo and Tony Blackburn, who described him as an “amazing broadcaster”.

Among those criticising the BBC for wrongly announcing Matthew’s death was the Nottingham-based author David Belbin, who tweeted: “Unbelievable. How much more damage does the BBC want to do to Brian Matthew’s family”.



His comment was a reference to the BBC’s controversial decision earlier this year to replace Matthew, citing concerns about his health after a fall. Matthew had dismissed the suggestion that he was too ill to present the programme as “absolute balderdash”, and fans agreed that the decision to replace him was premature. More than 5,000 of them signed a petition calling for him to be reinstated.

Unbelievable. How much more damage does the BBC want to do to Brian Matthew's family? https://t.co/pgCBsmQa6j — David Belbin (@DBelbin) April 5, 2017

"Brian Matthew has quit the BBC".



"No I haven't".



"Brian Matthew has died".



"No I haven't". — Matthew Rudd (@MatthewJRudd) April 5, 2017

Matthew last presented the Sound of the 60s on 25 February and was due to record a farewell edition to be broadcast over Easter. Instead Radio 2 had scheduled a tribute programme to Matthew to be broadcast on Friday, presented by the station’s former controller Jim Moir.

“How acutely embarrassing for the BBC. Having announced his death, it would appear he is in fact still alive,” one Twitter user wrote.

“Brian Matthew is still alive, apparently, which is great news … though the BBC’s premature announcement of his death is distressingly poor,” another said.

Matthew’s career at the BBC started in 1954 on The Light Programme, at a time when the broadcaster rarely played pop music. He was one of the first DJs on Radio 2, and hosted including shows including Saturday Club, Thank Your Lucky Stars and Late Night Extra. Before Sounds of the 60s, he was best known for the long-running Round Midnight programme, which won the 1987 Pulitzer Publishing award.



He presented Sounds of the 60s for almost three decades. As well as drawing more than three million listeners to the station for his weekly broadcast, he won a coveted Sony Gold award in 2008 “in recognition of a truly outstanding contribution to UK radio” and in October last year became the oldest regular broadcaster on BBC radio.

• This article replaces an earlier one that was published before the BBC had clarified that Brian Matthew was critically ill but alive.