Legendary talk show host Jerry Springer, who rose from humble Finchley origins to political office and fame in America, has died aged 79.

A statement from his family confirmed that he passed away “peacefully” at his home in Chicago. 

They said that he had been diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, with his health taking a turn for the worse this week, TMZ reported. 

Family spokesman Jene Galvin said: “Jerry's ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word.

“He's irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humour will live on.”

Springer hosted hit American talk show "The Jerry Springer Show" for 27 years.

The future mayor of Cincinnati was born in the London Underground station of Highgate during a German bombing amid the Second World War.

Springer grew up on Chandos Road, East Finchley to parents, Margot and Richard Springer, German-Jewish refugees who had escaped from Poland.

In 1949, the family moved to New York.

Springer's maternal grandmother, Marie Kallmann, was murdered at Chełmno extermination camp, while his paternal grandmother, Selma Springer, died at the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

In total, 27 members of Springer’s family died in the Holocaust. In later life, he attributed his parents’ survival to World Jewish Relief.

The charity rescued Margot and Richard and brought them to Britain from Nazi Germany a month before the outbreak of war in 1939.

"Everyone talks, quite rightly, about the horror of the Holocaust," he told the Independent in 2008.

"But think of the fear from 1933 onwards, the constant terror of knowing that tonight you might get a knock on the door and the Gestapo might take you away. I can't imagine that was anything other than horrific."