Stewart White (journalist)
Stewart Mark White | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stewart White 18 April 1947 Salisbury,Wiltshire,England |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, broadcaster |
| Notable credit | Look East |
Stewart White(born 18 April 1947)[1]is a British journalist and broadcaster, best known for presenting theEast AnglianregionalBBC NewsprogrammeLook Eastfor 37 years.
Beginning his career at several localBBC Radiostations, he later became a presenter andcontinuity announcerforATVandCentral.
In 1984, he became the lead presenter onLook East,where he remained until his sudden departure in September 2021. He became the longest-serving BBC regional news presenter followingChris Vacher's retirement fromPoints Westin 2011.[citation needed]
Early life
[edit]He was born and educated in the cathedral city ofSalisbury.His first job was at a grocers.[2]
Career
[edit]Radio
[edit]White's first job for theBBCwas a live introduction to aVietnamesetelevision programme on theBBC World Service.[2]From this he began a career working forBBC Radio,first atRadio Brighton,and later,Radio Derby,where he produced and presented several different programmes.
He left to present the daily mid-morning show on theBirminghamradio stationBRMB.[2]There, he interviewed such people as former Prime MinisterEdward Heath,actressJoan Collinsand singerMichael Jackson.He was also the last journalist in Britain to conduct a live interview with Jackson.[2]Stewart also presented a weekly country music show on the local commercial radio stationMercia SoundinCoventryandWarwickshire.
Television
[edit]White made the transition from radio to television by joiningATVas acontinuity announcer,and worked on a number of programmes includingStar Soccer,Something Differentas well as presenting several documentaries.
After ATV becameCentral Independent Televisionin 1982, White stayed at the channel, becoming the first human to appear on the satirical puppet showSpitting Image,in back-to-back episodes.[2]For several years, he provided football updates forBBC Radio 5 Livefrom East Anglia, and presented a weekly programme onBBC Radio Norfolk.[2]
Look East
[edit]In 1984, White moved back to the BBC to become a main presenter forLook East.[2]Whilst atLook East,White has been involved in two minor controversies relating toswearinglive on air. In July 2002, when White was interviewing a member of theCambridgeshire County Council,a feed from one of the show's video editors in the production gantry was accidentally broadcast; the editor was shouting multiple expletives at the time.[3]The following month a prerecorded rehearsal of theLook Eastheadlines (which featured White exclaiming "bugger" after making a mistake) was broadcast by mistake.[4][5]
As presenter ofLook East,White has hosted a number regional events, including the east's coverage ofChildren in Need,[6]and other charitable evenings.[7][8][9]
His journalism has won him several awards. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC Nations and Regions Ruby Television Awards in 2006, and has also won a Creative Industries' Media Personality of the Year Award.[10]He won theRoyal Television SocietyTelevision Personality of the Year in 2003[11]and Television News Presenter of the Year in 2000.[10]He was nominated for the Royal Television Society Award for Presenter of the Year in 2007, but lost out toJeremy Paxman.[12][13]He won the RTS award for Regional Television Presenter of the Year in 2013, and again in 2014.[14]
On 30 September 2021, White suddenly announced his departure fromLook Eastat the end of the 6.30pm programme, after 37 years withBBC East.[15]
In a November 2021 interview withIain Dalefor anLBCpodcast, White revealed the only other person who knew about his departure in advance was the editor ofLook East,and he left the Norwich studios immediately after that night's programme.[16]
Personal life
[edit]White is married with two daughters and a son, and lives inNorfolkand is an avid golf player.[2]He previously lived inThelvetoninSouth Norfolkfrom September 1984 when he was 37, off the mainA140.He played cricket forTivetshall.He is 6ft 3.
Both himself and his wife are vegetarians. His wife Jane was the secretary ofBrian Clough,and met when in Derby.[17]
References
[edit]- ^Stewart WHITECompanies House
- ^abcdefgh"Presenter Profile – Stewart White".BBC Look East.Retrieved13 April2008.
- ^Dan Milmo (18 July 2002)."BBC launches inquiry into four-letter outburst".The Guardian.Guardian News and Media.Retrieved17 April2008.
- ^John Plunkett (6 August 2002)."BBC's White turns air blue".theguardian.com.Guardian News and Media.Retrieved17 April2008.
- ^"Swearing on air".The Birmingham Post.6 August 2002.
- ^"BBC Look East's Stewart White gets cooking for Children in Need".BBC Press Office.Retrieved19 November2010.
- ^"Golfers raise cash for church".Halstead Gazette.29 June 2007.
- ^"Summit on sport's changing face".BBC News. 15 January 2005.Retrieved17 April2008.
- ^"Addenbrooke's Wins Health Enterprise East 2007 Innovation Award".Addenbrooke's Hospital.Retrieved17 April2008.
- ^ab"Stewart White".BBC Look East. 5 January 2007.Retrieved13 April2008.
- ^"BBC East takes television prizes".BBC News. 28 November 2003.Retrieved16 April2008.
- ^"Television Journalism Awards 2006/2007: Winners".Royal Television Society. Archived fromthe originalon 4 May 2008.Retrieved13 April2008.
- ^Leigh Holmwood (30 January 2008)."Channel 4's Undercover Mosque up for award".The Guardian.Guardian News and Media.Retrieved15 April2008.
- ^"Stewart White: Royal Television Society honour for Look East presenter".BBC News. 21 February 2013.Retrieved11 May2013.
- ^Stewart White leaves BBC Look East after 37 years,bbc.co.uk, 30 September 2021
- ^https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/stewart-white/id1475913485?i=1000542157946Stewart White - Iain Dale All Talk], Apple Podcasts, 17 November 2021
- ^Cambridge Daily NewsFriday 28 August 1987 page 52