This article is about the journalist. For the Blackadder character, see The Black Seal.
Wilfred De'Ath (/diˈɑːt/; 28 July 1937 – 19 February 2020)[1] was a British author and journalist who worked for the BBC as a radio producer in the 1960s and 1970s and wrote a column in The Oldie.[2]
De'Ath grew up in Elstree, Hertfordshire, England, in a mixed German–British family as his mother was German.[2][3] De'Ath said his German heritage was a problem during and after World War II.[2][3] He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's, Barnet, and Oriel College, Oxford.[2][3] Between 1963 and 1977, he was married and had two children, Emma and Charles.[2][3] He lived in Oxford.[3]
BBC careeredit
De'Ath started working for BBC Radio as a producer in 1960 after his graduation. During this period, he produced and interviewed public figures such as Auberon Waugh, Judi Dench, John Wells, Caryl Churchill and Daphne du Maurier.[2] In 1965, he interviewed John Lennon.[4] As the producer of Midweek in 1964, he arranged for the broadcast of "The Maurice Cole Quarter of an Hour Show" – the first radio appearance of Kenny Everett.[5][6] In the filmed biography of Everett – Best Possible Taste: The Kenny Everett Story — the part of De'Ath was played by actor James Wilby.[7] In the 1960s, De'Ath also produced Teen Scene for BBC Radio and worked with Jimmy Savile.
In the 1970s, he reported on the counterculture for the BBC Radio 4. He first investigated it in London districts like Notting Hill, presenting it as an American import. He then went to San Francisco, home of the Hippie movement, and then finally returned to Britain to report on experiments in communal living.[8]
De'Ath's career at the BBC ended after he wrote an article for the Hampstead and Highgate Express in which he described nine colleagues as "intellectual pygmies".[2][9] They brought a libel suit which ended up costing him £4,500 (equivalent to £32,609 in 2023), which was all the money he had at the time; because he had just separated from his wife he became homeless..[2][9]
Post-BBC eraedit
Sometime after his marriage ended, De'Ath lived as a vagrant in France,[2] and since 1993, De'Ath appeared in court over 30 times and was sent primarily by remand to prison between four and six times for petty thefts, by his own admission.[3][10] He also wrote about staying in expensive hotels for long periods of time without paying.[11] The experiences of these years provided De'Ath with both his public persona, as both a "gentleman" and a "scrounger", and the material for his column in The Oldie.[3] He also wrote his column from the perspective of a prisoner.[12]
On 11 November 2012, De'Ath was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree in an alleged connection with the Jimmy Savile–BBC sex scandal.[13][14] He was later released without charge after the complainant withdrew her statement.[15] De'Ath was later told that he would not face any charges, and said that the police action had been "overzealous".[16]
Just Me and Nobody Else [The Autobiography of an Anonymous Delinquent, as Related to W. De'Ath], 1966
Museums are all about life, 1970
Down and Out: The Collected Writings of The Oldie Columnist Wilfred De'Ath, 2003, ISBN0233000569
First edited collection of the columns of Wilfred De'Ath, regular columnist with monthly mag the "Oldie" with an introduction by Melvin Bragg
De'Ath, Wilfred (2008), Uncommon Criminal, ISBN978-1857252248, Born in 1937, Wilfred De'Ath's outwardly conventional early life in suburban London was dominated by the overpowering puritanism and fanatical patriotism of his mother, the daughter of a German pastor.
Referencesedit
^Cook, William (20 February 2020). "RIP Wilfred De'Ath (1937-2020)". The Oldie. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
^ abcdefghiDougary, Ginny (3 April 2013). "I've led a VERY wicked life: Wilfred de'Ath, BBC producer, thief and vagrant on going from riches to rags". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
^ abcdefgWark, Penny (18 November 2003). "The Pauper Prospers". The Times. London.
^Lennon, John (2000). A Spaniard in the Works. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN9781451625998.
^Hayward, Anthony (5 April 1995). "Obituary: Kenny Everett". The Independent. London. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
^De'Ath, Wilfred (13 April 1995). "Obituary: Kenny Everett". The Independent. London.
^"Best Possible Taste: The Kenny Everett Story". BBC.
^ ab. The Daily Telegraph. 20 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
^Howard, Anthony (7 October 2003). "A victimless crime". The Times. London.
^De'Ath, Wilfred (9 March 2006). "Customer or thief?". Caterer and Hotelkeeper. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
^Berlyne, Alex (30 April 1999). "Give Me Liberty or Give Me De'Ath". The Jerusalem Post.
^"Jimmy Savile: police arrest third man over historic sex abuse allegations". The Daily Telegraph. London. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
^"I know how Lord McAlpine feels". The Daily Telegraph. London. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
^"No charges against ex-BBC producer Wilfred De'Ath". BBC News. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
^"Police's Savile Yewtree inquiry 'has gone too far'". BBC News. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
Further readingedit
Howard Malchow (18 February 2011). Special Relations: The Americanization of Britain?. Stanford University Press. p. 115. ISBN978-0-8047-7783-4. Retrieved 4 April 2013. In the summer of 1970 the BBC turned to Wilfred De'Ath to "explain" the countercultural phenomenon in England. De'Ath—whose eclectic interests were those of a freelance opportunist—had no particular connection with the...
May 09, 2024
wilfred, this, article, about, journalist, blackadder, character, black, seal, ɑː, july, 1937, february, 2020, british, author, journalist, worked, radio, producer, 1960s, 1970s, wrote, column, oldie, contents, early, life, career, post, bibliography, referenc. This article is about the journalist For the Blackadder character see The Black Seal Wilfred De Ath d i ˈ ɑː t 28 July 1937 19 February 2020 1 was a British author and journalist who worked for the BBC as a radio producer in the 1960s and 1970s and wrote a column in The Oldie 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 BBC career 3 Post BBC era 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 Further readingEarly life editDe Ath grew up in Elstree Hertfordshire England in a mixed German British family as his mother was German 2 3 De Ath said his German heritage was a problem during and after World War II 2 3 He was educated at Queen Elizabeth s Barnet and Oriel College Oxford 2 3 Between 1963 and 1977 he was married and had two children Emma and Charles 2 3 He lived in Oxford 3 BBC career editDe Ath started working for BBC Radio as a producer in 1960 after his graduation During this period he produced and interviewed public figures such as Auberon Waugh Judi Dench John Wells Caryl Churchill and Daphne du Maurier 2 In 1965 he interviewed John Lennon 4 As the producer of Midweek in 1964 he arranged for the broadcast of The Maurice Cole Quarter of an Hour Show the first radio appearance of Kenny Everett 5 6 In the filmed biography of Everett Best Possible Taste The Kenny Everett Story the part of De Ath was played by actor James Wilby 7 In the 1960s De Ath also produced Teen Scene for BBC Radio and worked with Jimmy Savile In the 1970s he reported on the counterculture for the BBC Radio 4 He first investigated it in London districts like Notting Hill presenting it as an American import He then went to San Francisco home of the Hippie movement and then finally returned to Britain to report on experiments in communal living 8 De Ath s career at the BBC ended after he wrote an article for the Hampstead and Highgate Express in which he described nine colleagues as intellectual pygmies 2 9 They brought a libel suit which ended up costing him 4 500 equivalent to 32 609 in 2023 which was all the money he had at the time because he had just separated from his wife he became homeless 2 9 Post BBC era editSometime after his marriage ended De Ath lived as a vagrant in France 2 and since 1993 De Ath appeared in court over 30 times and was sent primarily by remand to prison between four and six times for petty thefts by his own admission 3 10 He also wrote about staying in expensive hotels for long periods of time without paying 11 The experiences of these years provided De Ath with both his public persona as both a gentleman and a scrounger and the material for his column in The Oldie 3 He also wrote his column from the perspective of a prisoner 12 On 11 November 2012 De Ath was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree in an alleged connection with the Jimmy Savile BBC sex scandal 13 14 He was later released without charge after the complainant withdrew her statement 15 De Ath was later told that he would not face any charges and said that the police action had been overzealous 16 Bibliography editHe wrote the following books Barbara Castle A portrait from life 1970 Just Me and Nobody Else The Autobiography of an Anonymous Delinquent as Related to W De Ath 1966 Museums are all about life 1970 Down and Out The Collected Writings of The Oldie Columnist Wilfred De Ath 2003 ISBN 0233000569 First edited collection of the columns of Wilfred De Ath regular columnist with monthly mag the Oldie with an introduction by Melvin Bragg De Ath Wilfred 2008 Uncommon Criminal ISBN 978 1857252248 Born in 1937 Wilfred De Ath s outwardly conventional early life in suburban London was dominated by the overpowering puritanism and fanatical patriotism of his mother the daughter of a German pastor References edit Cook William 20 February 2020 RIP Wilfred De Ath 1937 2020 The Oldie Retrieved 21 February 2020 a b c d e f g h i Dougary Ginny 3 April 2013 I ve led a VERY wicked life Wilfred de Ath BBC producer thief and vagrant on going from riches to rags London Evening Standard Retrieved 4 April 2013 a b c d e f g Wark Penny 18 November 2003 The Pauper Prospers The Times London Lennon John 2000 A Spaniard in the Works New York Simon amp Schuster ISBN 9781451625998 Hayward Anthony 5 April 1995 Obituary Kenny Everett The Independent London Retrieved 4 April 2013 De Ath Wilfred 13 April 1995 Obituary Kenny Everett The Independent London Best Possible Taste The Kenny Everett Story BBC Howard Malchow 2011 Special Relations The Americanization of Britain Stanford University Press pp 115 116 ISBN 9780804777834 a b Wilfred De Ath former BBC producer who in his Oldie column chronicled his scurrilous adventures thieving and sleeping rough obituary The Daily Telegraph 20 February 2020 Archived from the original on 20 February 2020 Retrieved 26 September 2021 Howard Anthony 7 October 2003 A victimless crime The Times London De Ath Wilfred 9 March 2006 Customer or thief Caterer and Hotelkeeper Retrieved 4 April 2013 Berlyne Alex 30 April 1999 Give Me Liberty or Give Me De Ath The Jerusalem Post Jimmy Savile police arrest third man over historic sex abuse allegations The Daily Telegraph London 11 November 2012 Retrieved 4 April 2013 I know how Lord McAlpine feels The Daily Telegraph London 11 November 2012 Retrieved 4 April 2013 No charges against ex BBC producer Wilfred De Ath BBC News 25 March 2013 Retrieved 25 March 2013 Police s Savile Yewtree inquiry has gone too far BBC News 26 March 2013 Retrieved 26 March 2013 Further reading editHoward Malchow 18 February 2011 Special Relations The Americanization of Britain Stanford University Press p 115 ISBN 978 0 8047 7783 4 Retrieved 4 April 2013 In the summer of 1970 the BBC turned to Wilfred De Ath to explain the countercultural phenomenon in England De Ath whose eclectic interests were those of a freelance opportunist had no particular connection with the Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilfred De 27Ath amp oldid 1201456272, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
