Dame Jenni Murray died days after car crash, inquest hears

Dame Jenni Murray has a blue and red paisley pattened scarf over one shoulder and is wearing a black top, she has short hair and glasses which are perched on her nose and attached by a beaded string

Image caption,

Dame Jenni Murray died in March this year

ByHelen BushbyCulture reporter

Published7 minutes ago

BBC broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray died days after being involved in a car crash in which she was dazzled by headlights, an inquest was told.

Dame Jenni, who was the longest-serving presenter of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, died on 12 March, eight days after a collision in north London.

North London area coroner Tony Murphy ruled her cause of death was bronchopneumonia caused by fractures to her rib and sternum fractures sustained in the crash.

A statement from Dr Clare Morkane, a consultant at the Royal Free Hospital where Dame Jenni died after being admitted on 4 March, stated: "Jennifer had been driving when she became dazzled by vehicle lights and collided with two stationary vehicles."

Dr Morkane added: "Following the collision, Jennifer was unable to recall events, exited the vehicle independently and she was conveyed to hospital."

The crash took place near Hampstead Heath, at around 19:45 GMT, the inquest heard.

It resulted in "multiple rib fractures", a fracture to the upper sternum and a collapsed lung.

The broadcaster was initially placed on non-invasive ventilation before being moved to intensive care, but she developed bronchopneumonia.

The Metropolitan Police investigated the crash but closed its investigation with no further action.

'Broadcasting icon'

Dame Jenni joined Woman's Hour in 1987 and left in 2020.

Vintage moments from the shows she presented included a confrontation with Baroness Margaret Thatcher about her childcare policies, a flirtatious interview with actor Jack Nicholson, challenging Edwina Currie about her affair with then PM John Major, and asking Hillary Clinton how she could forgive her husband Bill's infidelity.

Other highlights included an interview with her favourite singer Joan Baez - "the peak of my career", she once said.

After her death was announced, the then-BBC director general Tim Davie paid tribute to her as "a broadcasting icon", while Radio 4 controller Mohit Bakaya described her as "warm, fearless and beloved by listeners".

Dame Jenni announced on air in 2006 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

As well as speaking to her listeners about her breast cancer diagnosis, she also spoke openly about her weight loss surgery and the menopause.

In 2011, she received a damehood in recognition of her contribution to broadcasting, and also won two Sony Awards and was made a member of the Radio Academy Hall of Fame during her career.