Radio host and former federal senator Derryn Hinch has died aged 82, following a lengthy health battle, a longtime friend has confirmed to the Daily Mail. 

His former colleague and personal assistant Annette Philpott confirmed the legendary broadcaster had died in his sleep at his Melbourne home on Thursday night. 

‘They’re putting it down to old age,’ Philpott said. 

‘He’s had really tough times of late. He’s been in and out of hospital. I’m assuming his heart just gave out.’

In April, the veteran broadcaster, who dubbed himself as ‘Human Headline’, revealed on social media that he ‘was not very well’.

‘BUT. I am still moving. Pretty happy. Thinking. Going out. Catching up with friends.’ he wrote 

‘Maybe one more year or 10. Who knows? So enjoy. Appreciate still being here. Just do it. Be positive.’

Weeks later, he told the Daily Mail that he was ‘improving daily’.

Veteran broadcaster and former federal senator Derryn Hinch has died aged 82

Hinch was married and divorced four times. Hewas also engaged twice to former actress Lynda Stoner (pictured together)

‘I’ve been walking 8,000 steps a week. I had an operation on my leg last week, so yeah, things are getting back to normal – my new normal,’ Hinch said in late May.

Hinch had just finished editing his latest book, believed to be an updated autobiography.

‘That’ll be out for Christmas,’ he said.

Born in New Zealand, Hinch spent more than four decades in the media – first on the radio airwaves in Sydney and Melbourne and later hosted several television programs.

Hinch, who has been married and divorced four times, spent 12 days in prison in 1987 for contempt of court after he reported Catholic priest Michael Glennon’s prior conviction for indecently assaulting a 10-year-old girl.

At the time, Glennon had been set to face trial over further child sex offences and was running a youth camp while on bail.

In 2011, Hinch was convicted of breaching suppression orders on the names of two sex offenders and was sentenced to five months’ home detention.

Hinch was previously married to Aussie actress Jackie Weaver 

Months later, he underwent a life-saving transplant to replace his alcohol-ravaged and cancer-riddled liver.

Hinch was elected to the Senate in 2016 and served three years campaigning for a national child sex offenders register as well as other criminal justice system reforms.

In 2017, he revealed he had been molested by the brother of one of his father’s friends when he was a nine-year-old boy growing up in his native New Zealand.

Hinch is often associated with the phrase ‘shame, shame, shame’ – a famous catch cry that was actually coined by Steve Vizard on 1990s Australian comedy show Fast Forward

‘I never said ‘Shame, Shame, Shame.’ Vizard did,’ Hinch said.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow