David James Mossman (10 September 1926 – 5 April 1971) was a British journalist, broadcaster, TV reporter, film-maker, interviewer and former MI6 agent.
With producer David Webster, he made two notable programmes about the 1964 US presidential election: A Choice or an Echo, about the differences between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater; and Thunder on the Left, about the Right-wingers surrounding Goldwater.[1] He was a member of the Panorama team in the 1960s specialising in foreign affairs, with a famously acerbic interviewing style. He once verbally attacked then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson live on air, over his support of US President Lyndon Johnson over the Vietnam War. On another occasion, he took the Singapore prime minister to task for his habit of throwing his political opponents in jail. Eventually, he was reassigned to presenting regular arts slot by the BBC because of the controversy around his interviewing style.
Personal lifeedit
As a high-profile news reporter but closeted gay man in an era where homosexuality was outlawed, by the mid-1960s Mossman fell in love with Canadian Louis Hanssen. Hanssen was married to a woman and eight years younger than Mossman, however this didn't stop a relationship forming between the two. Hanssen died in 1968 of an accidental overdose.[2] Their relationship gave rise to speculation with colleagues of Mossman, who described Hanssen as domineering in their relationship.
Deathedit
In 1971, Mossman committed suicide in his cottage in Norfolk by taking a fatal overdose[3] of barbiturates, leaving behind a note that read: "I can't bear it any more, though I don't know what 'it' is."
In popular cultureedit
Peter Shaffer, the author of the play Equus, claimed that during a stay at the Norfolk cottage, Mossman, of whom he was a friend, told him the story on which he based the play.[4]
On 14 February 2007, The Reporter, a play by Nicholas Wright based on his book and directed by Richard Eyre, premiered at the Royal National Theatre in London. The play explores the social climate in the years before Mossman's death as well as the reasons for the death itself.
Bibliographyedit
Rebels in paradise : Indonesia's civil war, Jonathan Cape publishers, 1961, ISBN B0007KG0SE
Interview with Nicholas Wright, Financial Times, 16 February 2007
Slot on Mossman and the play The Reporter on BBC Radio 4's programme, The World Tonight - 22 February 2007
January 01, 1970
david, james, mossman, september, 1926, april, 1971, british, journalist, broadcaster, reporter, film, maker, interviewer, former, agent, contents, career, personal, life, death, popular, culture, bibliography, references, external, linkscareer, editwith, prod. David James Mossman 10 September 1926 5 April 1971 was a British journalist broadcaster TV reporter film maker interviewer and former MI6 agent Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Death 4 In popular culture 5 Bibliography 6 References 7 External linksCareer editWith producer David Webster he made two notable programmes about the 1964 US presidential election A Choice or an Echo about the differences between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater and Thunder on the Left about the Right wingers surrounding Goldwater 1 He was a member of the Panorama team in the 1960s specialising in foreign affairs with a famously acerbic interviewing style He once verbally attacked then Prime Minister Harold Wilson live on air over his support of US President Lyndon Johnson over the Vietnam War On another occasion he took the Singapore prime minister to task for his habit of throwing his political opponents in jail Eventually he was reassigned to presenting regular arts slot by the BBC because of the controversy around his interviewing style Personal life editAs a high profile news reporter but closeted gay man in an era where homosexuality was outlawed by the mid 1960s Mossman fell in love with Canadian Louis Hanssen Hanssen was married to a woman and eight years younger than Mossman however this didn t stop a relationship forming between the two Hanssen died in 1968 of an accidental overdose 2 Their relationship gave rise to speculation with colleagues of Mossman who described Hanssen as domineering in their relationship Death editIn 1971 Mossman committed suicide in his cottage in Norfolk by taking a fatal overdose 3 of barbiturates leaving behind a note that read I can t bear it any more though I don t know what it is In popular culture editPeter Shaffer the author of the play Equus claimed that during a stay at the Norfolk cottage Mossman of whom he was a friend told him the story on which he based the play 4 On 14 February 2007 The Reporter a play by Nicholas Wright based on his book and directed by Richard Eyre premiered at the Royal National Theatre in London The play explores the social climate in the years before Mossman s death as well as the reasons for the death itself Bibliography editRebels in paradise Indonesia s civil war Jonathan Cape publishers 1961 ISBN B0007KG0SE Beggars on horseback Little Brown 1966 ISBN B0007DRYJ0 winner of the Author s Club First Novel Award Love Love Love BBC 1967 ISBN B0007K7YY8 Lifelines Bodley Head 1971 ISBN 0 370 01430 8References edit Smith Ben Reiley 19 August 2003 Salmond Denounces Sturgeon The Daily Telegraph London Retrieved 27 February 2021 dead link Dowd Vincent 27 February 2007 Staging Mossman s tragic story BBC News Spencer Charles 23 February 2007 Haunting portrait of a mysterious life The Daily Telegraph London Retrieved 24 December 2012 William Inge Theatre Festival Peter Shaffer Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editThe Real Jim The Guardian 3 February 2007 Interview with Nicholas Wright Financial Times 16 February 2007 Slot on Mossman and the play The Reporter on BBC Radio 4 s programme The World Tonight 22 February 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David James Mossman amp oldid 1186140387, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
