Nicholas Newton Henshall WitchellOStJFRGS (born 23 September 1953) is an English journalist and news presenter. The latter half of his career has been as royal correspondent for BBC News.
Witchell was born on 23 September 1953 in Shropshire. He was educated at Epsom College, a British fee-paying school in Surrey, and at Leeds University, where he read Law and edited the Leeds Student newspaper. In 1974, Terence Dalton Limited published his book The Loch Ness Story, a history of alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster.[1]
Witchell has worked for the BBC since 1976.[1] He and Sue Lawley were the first readers of the BBC News at Six when the programme was launched on 3 September 1984 (replacing the early-evening news magazine Sixty Minutes). In 1988, the Six O'Clock News studio was invaded during a live broadcast by a group of women protesting against the Section 28 law (which sought to prevent councils from promoting homosexuality). Witchell grappled with the protesters and was said to have sat on one woman, provoking the frontpage headline in the Daily Mirror: "Beeb Man Sits on Lesbian".[2] During the 1989 journalists' strike, Witchell was one of the few newsreaders not to strike.[3] This was parodied by Spitting Image with a puppet likeness shown not only breaking the journalists' strike by working, but also showing up through the news broadcast doing various other jobs within the BBC and jobs covered in the news report.[4]
In 1989, he moved from the evening to the breakfast news slot, where he remained for five years.[5] During the 1991 Gulf War, he was a volunteer presenter on the BBC Radio 4 News FM service.[6]
In 1998, Witchell became a royal and diplomatic correspondent. In 2002, his obituary of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, recorded before her death but screened following the announcement, was reportedly not well received at Buckingham Palace, as it mentioned her lovers and "copious" consumption of whisky.[8]
Witchell provoked royal displeasure again in 2005. At a press conference at the Swiss ski resort of Klosters, Witchell asked Charles, then-Prince of Wales, how he and his sons were feeling about his forthcoming marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles. After a response from his son Prince William, the Prince of Wales said under his breath, and referring to Witchell, "These bloody people. I can't bear that man. I mean, he's so awful, he really is."[9] A spokesman for the BBC defended their reporter saying, "He is one of our finest. His question was perfectly reasonable under the circumstances."[9]
^"Full cast and crew for "Doctor Who" Voyage of the Damned (2007)". Internet Movie Database. 9 December 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
External links
Transcript of interview at Kloisters 31 March 2005, including a video of Witchell's response to Charles's outburst about him
January 07, 2023
nicholas, witchell, nicholas, newton, henshall, witchell, ostj, frgs, born, september, 1953, english, journalist, news, presenter, latter, half, career, been, royal, correspondent, news, bornnicholas, newton, henshall, witchell, 1953, september, 1953, cosford,. Nicholas Newton Henshall Witchell OStJ FRGS born 23 September 1953 is an English journalist and news presenter The latter half of his career has been as royal correspondent for BBC News Nicholas WitchellBornNicholas Newton Henshall Witchell 1953 09 23 23 September 1953 age 69 Cosford Shropshire EnglandAlma materUniversity of LeedsOccupationJournalistSpouseMaria Staples m 2014 wbr Children2 daughters Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Royal correspondent 3 Life outside journalism 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career EditWitchell was born on 23 September 1953 in Shropshire He was educated at Epsom College a British fee paying school in Surrey and at Leeds University where he read Law and edited the Leeds Student newspaper In 1974 Terence Dalton Limited published his book The Loch Ness Story a history of alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster 1 Witchell has worked for the BBC since 1976 1 He and Sue Lawley were the first readers of the BBC News at Six when the programme was launched on 3 September 1984 replacing the early evening news magazine Sixty Minutes In 1988 the Six O Clock News studio was invaded during a live broadcast by a group of women protesting against the Section 28 law which sought to prevent councils from promoting homosexuality Witchell grappled with the protesters and was said to have sat on one woman provoking the frontpage headline in the Daily Mirror Beeb Man Sits on Lesbian 2 During the 1989 journalists strike Witchell was one of the few newsreaders not to strike 3 This was parodied by Spitting Image with a puppet likeness shown not only breaking the journalists strike by working but also showing up through the news broadcast doing various other jobs within the BBC and jobs covered in the news report 4 In 1989 he moved from the evening to the breakfast news slot where he remained for five years 5 During the 1991 Gulf War he was a volunteer presenter on the BBC Radio 4 News FM service 6 Witchell was the first reporter to relay the news of the death in 1979 of Lord Mountbatten 1 the death in 1986 of former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan the 1987 Zeebrugge ferry disaster 7 the 1988 Lockerbie disaster and the death in 1997 of Diana Princess of Wales 5 Royal correspondent EditIn 1998 Witchell became a royal and diplomatic correspondent In 2002 his obituary of Princess Margaret Countess of Snowdon recorded before her death but screened following the announcement was reportedly not well received at Buckingham Palace as it mentioned her lovers and copious consumption of whisky 8 Witchell provoked royal displeasure again in 2005 At a press conference at the Swiss ski resort of Klosters Witchell asked Charles then Prince of Wales how he and his sons were feeling about his forthcoming marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles After a response from his son Prince William the Prince of Wales said under his breath and referring to Witchell These bloody people I can t bear that man I mean he s so awful he really is 9 A spokesman for the BBC defended their reporter saying He is one of our finest His question was perfectly reasonable under the circumstances 9 Life outside journalism EditWitchell is a governor of Queen Elizabeth s Foundation for Disabled People an Officer of the Order of St John and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society He has two daughters and currently lives in Central London with his wife Maria nee Staples 2 10 Witchell appeared as himself in the Doctor Who Christmas Special Voyage of the Damned broadcast on Christmas Day 2007 11 12 References Edit a b c Tim Luckhurst 28 August 2005 Nicholas Witchell more touchy than feely The Independent Retrieved on 7 March 2016 a b Witchell the BBC man who sat on a lesbian The Times London 31 March 2005 Retrieved 15 March 2019 O Carroll Lisa Deans Jason Day Julia 23 May 2005 TV stars why we crossed BBC picket line The Guardian Retrieved 21 April 2016 Spitting Image 1987 Series 6 Episode 1 Full Episode retrieved 26 June 2021 a b About BBC News Nicholas Witchell profile BBC News website BBC Press Office Jenny Abramsky Oxford lecture two www bbc co uk Zeebrugge disaster BBC News reports Via youtube 6 March 1987 Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 Retrieved 23 December 2016 Alexa Baracaia No stranger to undiplomatic incidents Evening Standard 31 March 2005 a b I hate facing media says Charles 31 March 2005 via news bbc co uk Nicholas Witchell more touchy than feely The Independent on Sunday Archived from the original on 19 June 2022 Retrieved 10 July 2011 Radio Times 9 December 2007 124 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Full cast and crew for Doctor Who Voyage of the Damned 2007 Internet Movie Database 9 December 2007 Retrieved 9 December 2007 External links EditTranscript of interview at Kloisters 31 March 2005 including a video of Witchell s response to Charles s outburst about him Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nicholas Witchell amp oldid 1127088311, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
