Who was the first British newsreader to be knighted?
Question #66005. Asked by welllady.
Last updated Sep 28 2016.
margot7
Answer has 1 vote
margot7
Answer has 1 vote.
My first thought was Richard Dimbleby but I'm not certain if he counts as a newsreader - this brings us to the much more recent Sir Trevor MacDonald.
May 21 2006, 10:46 AM
s-m-w
Answer has 1 vote
s-m-w
Answer has 1 vote.
Sir Robin Day
May 21 2006, 10:51 AM
Baloo55th
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Baloo55th 22 year member
4545 replies
Answer has 1 vote.
Dimbleby and Day were presenters not newsreaders. They specialised in political programmes (and in the case of Dimbleby, commentaries on Great Occasions). I'd go for MacDonald, who definitely is/was a newsreader. (Not sure whether he still is or not - I don't have a TV.)
May 21 2006, 12:38 PM
welllady
Answer has 2 votes
welllady 21 year member
27 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
Thanks was Alistair Burnett a Sir do you know?
May 21 2006, 1:09 PM
zbeckabee
Answer has 4 votes
Currently Best Answer
zbeckabee Moderator 19 year member
11752 replies
Answer has 4 votes.
Currently voted the best answer.
Alastair Burnet was knighted in 1984 for services to journalism and broadcasting. "the booster rocket that put ITN into orbit"
Response last updated by postcards2go on Sep 28 2016.
May 21 2006, 2:06 PM
zbeckabee
Answer has 2 votes
zbeckabee Moderator 19 year member
11752 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
Sir Robin Day's words, not mine
Response last updated by postcards2go on Sep 28 2016.
May 21 2006, 2:07 PM
Baloo55th
Answer has 1 vote
Baloo55th 22 year member
4545 replies
Answer has 1 vote.
Seven Google references have him as Sir Alastair, and one of them is to a rather poor limerick. Can't see any dates.
May 21 2006, 3:03 PM
Baloo55th
Answer has 2 votes
Baloo55th 22 year member
4545 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
Rather more for him spelled correctly...
May 21 2006, 3:18 PM
s-m-w
Answer has 1 vote
s-m-w
Answer has 1 vote.
Well Robin Day surely read the news when I was a youngster - he went on to be a presenter. Was one of the first for ITV.
May 22 2006, 2:57 AM
s-m-w
Answer has 2 votes
s-m-w
Answer has 2 votes.
He went to the United States to work for the British Information Services in Washington, worked as a freelance for a time, and in 1955 became a BBC Radio talks producer.
Commercial television was about to begin around that time, and ITN were looking for newscasters. Robin Day and Christopher Chataway were the first two.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alastair_Burnet