Alastair Burnet
Alastair Burnet | |
---|---|
Born | James William Alexander Burnet 12 July 1928 Sheffield. England |
Died | 20 July 2012 Kensington, London, England | (aged 84)
Other names | Alastair Burnet |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1963–1991 |
Employer | ITN |
Notable credit | ITV News at Ten |
Spouse |
Maureen Sinclair (m. 1958) |
Sir James William Alexander Burnet (12 July 1928 – 20 July 2012), known as Alastair Burnet, was a British journalist and broadcaster, best known for his work in news and current affairs programmes, including a long career with ITN as chief presenter of the flagship News at Ten; Sir Robin Day described Burnet as "the booster rocket that put ITN into orbit".[1]
Burnet was also a prominent print journalist who edited The Economist and the Daily Express.
Early life
Burnet was born to
Career in journalism
Upon graduating, Burnet began work as a reporter for the
Burnet left ITN in 1965 to rejoin The Economist as editor, but continued broadcasting as a reporter and interviewer for
He rejoined ITN in June 1976, initially for a brief stint back on News at Ten, but in September 1976 he became the main presenter for the newly relaunched early evening bulletin News at 5:45. He returned to News at Ten in March 1978. Four years later, Burnet became an associate editor for the programme and joined the ITN board of directors. He continued to present coverage of political events including the 1979, 1983 and 1987 general elections, by-elections, budgets, the 1979, 1984 and 1989 European Parliament Elections and American presidential elections.
Burnet also presented coverage of the royal family, commentating on the weddings of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986 and other state occasions. He also wrote and presented several Royal documentaries including In Person: The Prince and Princess of Wales, A Royal Day and The Royal Family in Scotland. Outside of ITN, he was also a presenter and interviewer for Thames Television's TV Eye (for a time, a substitute for This Week).
In February 1990, Burnet resigned from the ITN board amid a dispute over the future ownership of the company, during which his own proposals to restructure the organisation were rejected. He retired from ITN as newscaster and associate editor 18 months later, presenting his final edition of News at Ten on 29 August 1991.
Personal life
Burnet was a supporter of Scottish football clubs Rangers and Partick Thistle.[9]
Death
Following his retirement, he did not make any further appearances on television or write for the press. In part, this was because of his being diagnosed with dementia, following which the requirement for 24-hour nursing resulted in his having to reside in the Beatrice Place Nursing Home in Kensington, London. His condition meant that he felt comfortable only with close friends; these included his wife, and also former ITN News director Diana Edwards-Jones. Burnet died peacefully in the early hours of 20 July 2012, at his nursing home in Kensington, where he had been living following a series of strokes.[10][11][12] Paying tribute, Andrew Neil referred to Burnet as "Britain's greatest broadcaster".[13]
In his will he left £2 million, most of it bequeathed to his wife.[citation needed]
Popular culture
The satirical TV puppet show
Honours
Burnet was knighted in the 1984 New Year Honours "for services to journalism and broadcasting".[15]
He also won numerous awards, including the
References
- ^ "Alastair Burnet". Irish Independent. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Worcester College, Oxford: Students/Graduates". Freebase. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ "Obituary: Sir Alastair Burnet". BBC News. 20 July 2012.
- ^ "Alastair Stewart Biography". Manchester Evening News. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ "Television Timeline: News at Ten: 3/7/67". BBC Four. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ Burnet, Alastair, BFI entry]
- ^ Stephen Hugh Jones (26 February 2006). "So what's the secret of 'The Economist'?". The Independent on Sunday. London. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ "Alastair Burnet". The Economist. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ^ "Sir Alastair Burnet". The Telegraph. London. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ "Sir Alastair Burnet dies aged 84". ITV News. 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Sir Alastair Burnet dies at 84". BBC News. 20 July 2012.
- ^ "Sir Alastair Burnet dies aged 84". 20 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Alistair Burnet 'was Britain's greatest broadcaster'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ a b Hayward, Anthony (20 July 2012). "Sir Alastair Burnet". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ "No. 49583". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1983. p. 1.
External links
- ITV launches court bid over news BBC News, 27 July 2000
- "My mentor: Newsreader Alastair Stewart on the anchor that steadied his career", The Guardian, 2 February 2008
- Alastair Burnet at IMDb
- Andrew Neil's eulogy for Burnet, November 2012