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]
Upon graduating, Burnet began work as a reporter for the Glasgow Herald, before joining The Economist in 1958 as a sub-editor, leader writer, and subsequently, associate editor. He switched to television in 1963, becoming political editor for ITN. While reporting, he became a relief newscaster and worked on ITN's current affairs programmes including Roving Report, Dateline and Dateline Westminster. He was also the main anchor for the ITV network's coverage of the 1964, 1966 and 1970 general elections and the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969.[4][5]
Burnet left ITN in 1965 to rejoin The Economist as editor, but continued broadcasting as a reporter and interviewer for Associated-Rediffusion's weekly current affairs programme This Week.[6] He returned part-time to ITN in 1967 to launch News at Ten, presenting the first programme (during the show's thirteen-week pilot phase) on 3 July alongside Andrew Gardner, and also presented the short-lived topical interview series Man in the News in 1970. He switched to the BBC in 1972 to report and present for Panorama and Midweek and to anchor coverage of the February and October 1974 general election programmes, also covering the wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips. He continued to edit The Economist until 1974,[7] where he raised the circulation by 60%.[8] He then joined the Daily Express as editor, but resigned 18 months later.
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 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.
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 twenty-four-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 Spitting Image portrayed Burnet as a fawning royalist, who behaved in an ingratiating manner towards the nearest available member of the Royal Family;[14] one episode ended with the Burnet puppet singing a song about his love for the Queen Mother (before being pushed aside for Sandy Gall). The satirical magazine Private Eye referred to him as "Arslicker Burnet".[14]
alastair, burnet, james, william, alexander, burnet, july, 1928, july, 2012, known, british, journalist, broadcaster, best, known, work, news, current, affairs, programmes, including, long, career, with, chief, presenter, flagship, news, robin, described, burn. 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 SirAlastair BurnetBurnet in the 1960sBornJames William Alexander Burnet 1928 07 12 12 July 1928Sheffield West Riding of Yorkshire EnglandDied20 July 2012 2012 07 20 aged 84 Kensington London EnglandOther namesAlastair BurnetOccupationsTelevision presenternewscasterjournalistYears active1963 1991EmployerITNNotable creditITV News at TenSpouseMaureen Sinclair m 1958 wbr Burnet was also a prominent print journalist who edited The Economist and the Daily Express Contents 1 Early life 2 Career in journalism 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Popular culture 6 Honours 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditBurnet was born to Scottish parents in Sheffield West Riding of Yorkshire on 12 July 1928 He was educated at the Leys School a boys independent school in Cambridge before reading history at Worcester College Oxford 2 3 Career in journalism EditUpon graduating Burnet began work as a reporter for the Glasgow Herald before joining The Economist in 1958 as a sub editor leader writer and subsequently associate editor He switched to television in 1963 becoming political editor for ITN While reporting he became a relief newscaster and worked on ITN s current affairs programmes including Roving Report Dateline and Dateline Westminster He was also the main anchor for the ITV network s coverage of the 1964 1966 and 1970 general elections and the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969 4 5 Burnet left ITN in 1965 to rejoin The Economist as editor but continued broadcasting as a reporter and interviewer for Associated Rediffusion s weekly current affairs programme This Week 6 He returned part time to ITN in 1967 to launch News at Ten presenting the first programme during the show s thirteen week pilot phase on 3 July alongside Andrew Gardner and also presented the short lived topical interview series Man in the News in 1970 He switched to the BBC in 1972 to report and present for Panorama and Midweek and to anchor coverage of the February and October 1974 general election programmes also covering the wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips He continued to edit The Economist until 1974 7 where he raised the circulation by 60 8 He then joined the Daily Express as editor but resigned 18 months later 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 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 EditBurnet was a supporter of Scottish football clubs Rangers and Partick Thistle 9 Death EditFollowing 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 twenty four 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 EditThe satirical TV puppet show Spitting Image portrayed Burnet as a fawning royalist who behaved in an ingratiating manner towards the nearest available member of the Royal Family 14 one episode ended with the Burnet puppet singing a song about his love for the Queen Mother before being pushed aside for Sandy Gall The satirical magazine Private Eye referred to him as Arslicker Burnet 14 Honours EditBurnet was knighted in the 1984 New Year Honours for services to journalism and broadcasting 15 He also won numerous awards including the BAFTA Richard Dimbleby award three times in 1966 1970 and 1979 References Edit 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 EditITV 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 2012Media officesPreceded byIan Trethowan Political Editor of ITN1963 1964 UnknownNext known title holder Julian HavilandPreceded byDonald Tyerman Editor of The Economist1965 1974 Succeeded byAndrew KnightPreceded byIan McColl Editor of The Daily Express1974 1976 Succeeded byRoy Wright Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alastair Burnet amp oldid 1127117460, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
