The much-loved presenter had been battling vascular dementia since 2013, and passed away peacefully in his sleep during the early hours of this morning, January 16. 

His agent announced the news today, assuring that Dolan’s wife, Christine, was by his side. 

BBC WM read a statement to their listeners, sharing their condolences to Doolan’s friends, family and legion of fans. 

"Ed touched the lives of countless people from all walks of life – not only through his broadcasting and writing but through his often unsung work for charity," they said.

His agent, Paul Vaughn, added: “We have lost a great champion and a truly skilled and popular broadcaster and newspaper columnist.”

Doolan - who interviewed every Prime Minister since Harold MacMillan - was a local treasure, presenting his West Midlands radio show for over 40 years.

He revealed that he had been battling dementia for two years live on his radio show.

“I’ve spent my entire life communicating and suddenly I find I can’t communicate,” he solemnly explained. 

Allowing the host to resume his weekly programme, Doolan pre-recorded his show.

He told fans: “I’m finding that it is a very therapeutic thing that I can just come in and record and put the show together.

“If we find we can’t do something, and I can’t tell the difference between 1963 and 1983, it’s not funny. Then you click back in and do it another way."

Doolan’s battle with dementia became the subject of a BBC Inside Out documentary, which aired in 2017 and followed his inspirational journey as he continued his weekly Sunday show for BBC WM.

Speaking during the moving film, Professor George Tadros enthused: “People with dementia, especially when it is diagnosed early on, can maintain function for a very long time.

“Ed has been presenting his programme while suffering from dementia, fully aware of the diagnosis of dementia.

“He has been able to maintain his job, and his personality and his intellect.

“This is really amazing, the example he is giving.”

Doolan stressed that the found his illness “annoying” rather than “frightening”.

“The images they show on television are so dramatic, but I haven’t found it dramatic at all," he told the Birmingham Mail.

“It’s a bit annoying and a bit frightening when you lose your track, but you get back on it again.

“I do spend a huge amount of time in the house. I watch a bit of telly and have a bit of a sleep.

“Friends still come round with sandwiches and we’ll have lunch.”