Veteran radio DJ – and the host of Big Brother South Africa and Africa – Mark Pilgrim has passed on Sunday, 5 March. His death was confirmed by HOT 102.7FM in an online statement.
Mark Pilgrim lived bravely, courageously and graciously right until the very end — and regardless of hardship he continued to inspire South Africans.
After being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1988, and going into remission, Pilgrim was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March 2022. A journey he shared regularly with his fans on social media and through a YouTube series.
Mark Pilgrim’s contribution to South Africa’s media landscape extends far beyond the mic and airwaves of HOT 102.7FM. Not only did he host several radio shows on 5FM, 94.7 Highveld Stereo, 94.5 Kfm, and Hot919, he was also a regular on our TV screens.
As a DJ, voiceover artist, radio and TV host, MC and motivational speaker, Pilgrim is a household name in South Africa. He has won numerous SA Radio Awards for best weekend and daytime show and he was inducted into the Radio Awards Hall of Fame in 2021.