TRIBUTES have been paid to Money for Nothing presenter EJ Osborne after he died aged 45.

EJ died this week after spending three-and-a-half weeks in Dorothy House Hospice near Bath in Somerset.

The TV star, who settled in Brighton after leaving his native Australia and moving to the UK, was known for saving items from being thrown away and crafting them into beautiful pieces which could be sold on.

Co-star Sarah Moore said that "all of the Money for Nothing team were devastated to hear the news that the fantastic, inspiring, chuckling and talented member of our TV family, EJ, has passed away".

She added: "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."

EJ leaves behind his wife Anne-Marie and young daughter Orla.

Anne-Marie posted a tribute to her husband on social media and encouraged friends and fans to share pictures showing their memories of him.

She thanked nurses at the hospice which cared for EJ in his final weeks for their "compassion, resilience and kindness".

"Me and Orla and the swan would love to see any photos you all have of his many beautiful makes that have made their way out into the world," she added.

EJ was born a woman in Australia and lived in Tokyo and Madrid before moving to the UK and settling in Brighton.

In an interview with Brighton Transformed he talked about the discrimination he had endured in his home country.

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.

"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."

He met his wife Anne-Marie in 2007 and told her he was transgender a few years into their relationship.

He spoke about his experiences on Katie Piper's Extraordinary People podcast in 2018. 

Katie was one of many people who paid tribute to EJ following the news of his death.

Writing on Instagram, she said: "Rest in piece EJ. You touched my life and many others.

"I still get messages now about the podcast we did together and how it’s impacted other people’s journeys positively."