Money For Nothing presenter EJ Osborne dies aged 45

Heartbroken Money For Nothing colleagues have paid tribute to EJ Osborne following his death on Monday at the age of 45.

The Australian craftsman passed away at Dorothy House Hospice near Bath, Somerset, on September 21st. A cause of death is yet to be confirmed. 

Sarah Moore, who worked alongside the transgender presenter on their BBC show, led the tributes by sharing an image of Osborne at the request of his grieving wife Anne-Marie.  

Captioning the photo, she wrote: ‘All of the @monfornothing team were devastated to hear the news that the fantastic, inspiring, chuckling and talented member of our TV family @hatchetandbear has passed away.  

‘I join with all of the team, our artisans, production crew, directors, executives, viewers and friends in sending our love and respect to his family. He touched us deeply with his obvious lust for life, energy and commitment. 

‘He sent me this picture last year whilst holidaying. Anne-Marie, his wife, asks that we share our pictures so I’m posting this here as I think EJ looks so happy. Rest in peace and purple sequins my friend. See you on the other side.’ 

Craftsman Jay Blades, a regular All Or Nothing contributor, also expressed his condolences after waking to discover his colleague had passed away. 

‘Morning all, just found out that my friend & presenter on @monfornothing @hatchetandbear @ej_osborne is in a better place now. Sincere condolences to his family for their lost.’ [sic]

Addressing his followers in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Anne-Marie praised the palliative care nurses who cared for her husband during the final weeks of his life at Dorothy House, which focuses on quality of life for those with life-limiting illnesses.  

Sharing a series of family photos, she wrote: ‘EJ spent the last three and a bit weeks of his life being cared for by the wonderful women at Dorothy House hospice. I was with him every day and was blown away by their compassion, resilience and kindness. 

‘I know he felt so cared for and safe and I will never forget Ella, Jemima, Gemma, Mandz, Clare, Trish, Irish Helen, Scottish Helen, Andrea and so many, many more for whom it was clear it was not just a job. Real life wonder women. 

‘Dorothy House is a charity so if any of you can, please donate to them. I really cannot imagine how we would have managed without them.’ 

EJ moved to the United Kingdom after leaving Australia and starting a new life overseas, initially in Tokyo, before finally settling in Brighton following a spell in Madrid. 

He quickly established himself as a talented craftsman on Money For Nothing,  in which discarded items are salvaged, upscaled to a high standard and sold, with all profits going to the last owner. 

Speaking to Brighton Transformed, the presenter – who was born a woman – admitted he endured a difficult start in his home country due to parochial views on homosexuality in rural Australia. 

He said: ‘I grew up in a little isolated, Australian country town that was so deeply homophobic it was still illegal to be gay, when I was a teenager there, my teenage years.. 

‘I removed myself from the transphobia, from the homophobia, from my family expectations, from my existing group of friends, I completely started again in a foreign country and a foreign city where I didn’t know anyone and couldn’t speak the language.’ 

Despite meeting wife Anne-Marie in 2007, the presenter later admitted he did not reveal his transgender status until he was close to his 39th birthday. 

Praising his wife for her understanding during an appearance on Katie Piper’s  Extraordinary People podcast in 2018, he said: ‘She’s a very open-minded person, she’s very lovely.’ 

Paying tribute to the presenter on Wednesday, Piper admitted their interview served to help other transgender men currently on the same journey.  

Taking to Instagram, she wrote: ‘Rest in piece EJ. You touched my life and many others. I still get msgs now about the podcast we did together and how it’s impacted other people’s journeys positively.’ 

Sharing a post with followers in April, EJ quoted a poignant speech from screenwriter Eric Roth, written for 2008 film The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, in which the central protagonist tragically ages in reverse. 

He wrote: ‘Every day I feel like grow into a better version of myself. For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. 

‘There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. 

‘We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. 

‘I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again’. 

EJ leaves behind his wife and their young daughter, Orla.