Russell Davies

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This article is about the radio music journalist. For the Welsh screenwriter associated with reviving Doctor Who, see Russell T Davies. For those of the same or similar name, see Russell Davis (disambiguation).

Robert Russell Davies (born 5 April 1946) is a British journalist and broadcaster.

Davies was born in Barmouth, North Wales. He attended Manchester Grammar School, according to his own statement on a November 2010 Brain of Britain programme. Also according to the programme, his grandfather was a mole-catcher. During his time at MGS (1957–64) he acted in dramatic society productions and was appointed school vice-captain.[1]

He gained a scholarship to

post-graduate studies in German literature when the opportunity arose to tour with the Cambridge Footlights revue. During his time in Cambridge, he contributed topical cartoons to the news pages of Varsity, the undergraduate newspaper, under the pseudonym
Dai.

In 1970, Davies co-starred with fellow Footlights alumni Pete Atkin, Clive James and Julie Covington across three London Weekend Television series. The Party's Moving On and What Are You Doing After the Show? were revue-style shows, featuring original music written by Atkin and James along with sketches and commentary. Think Twice focused on discussion of the arts between Davies and co-host Clive James.[2][3][4]

As a journalist, Davies worked as a film and television critic for

Punch. He edited Kenneth Williams's diaries and letters for publication, despite being the target of Williams's acid pen in those same diaries. He regularly appeared on television in the 1980s, presenting Saturday Review for BBC2
.

In 1988, Davies was the presenter of a 12-part BBC radio series Radio Fun chronicling the history of comedy on the radio from the thirties to the present day. The series was repeated from 2007 to 2010 on BBC Radio 7 (now BBC Radio 4 Extra).[5]

Davies is a jazz trombonist and has presented television and radio documentaries on jazz, including in 1999 a year-long history for

John Warburton (shortlisted for the 2004 Grierson
Award). By July 2005, his film had been broadcast nine times.

His documentary on the life of the cartoonist Ronald Searle was shown on the BBC in 2006.

He presents

Counterpoint
.

See also

References

  1. ^ A Biographical Register of Old Mancunians. Manchester Grammar School. 1978. p. 789.
  2. ^ "Session Notes: Pete Atkin The Radio & TV Sessions". Smash Flops. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Two new shows by LWT". The Stage and Television Today. 30 April 1970.
  4. ^ Allan, Elkan (5 July 1970). "Eight new shows tonight". The Sunday Times.
  5. ^ "BBC Radio 7 - Radio Fun: The Story of Radio Comedy, Episode 12". Bbc.co.uk. 9 January 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Brain of Britain". BBC. Retrieved 15 February 2010.

External links

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