Christopher Price (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Nicholas Price (21 September 1967 - 22 April 2002) was the original host of British
celebrity news show Liquid News
.
shortly after his birth by a couple in Norfolk
. In his early days, he attended Worth Abbey - a Roman Catholic
boarding school in Sussex
. After school, he studied Italian
at Reading University
. However, he left university with the desire to become a journalist
- he enrolled into the BBC
reporter training scheme in 1991. Once completed, he pursued his desire and in 1993, he became a reporter on Radio Berkshire - soon to move to Radio Solent. In March 1994, he joined BBC Radio 5 Live
to eventually become a Senior Broadcast Journalist. He sometimes stood in for Sybil Ruscoe
, and occasionally presented Up All Night. He joined BBC News 24 when it was launched in November 1997 and presented a mixture of news, fashion, and entertainment in a 10:30pm slot. However, after nine months, he was called to the office of a senior colleague and told that he was too camp to read the news. He and the producer Chris Wilson put together a nightly entertainment news discussion programme called Zero 30. After Stuart Murphy said that he enjoyed the programme he was persuaded to take it to digital television channel BBC Choice
where it became Liquid News
on 30th May 2000. In early 2001, he hit the headlines when he signed a £280,000 two-year contract for presenting Liquid News. At the time, Christopher himself was quoted as jokingly saying that he didn't understand why people would want to watch a programme presented by a "fat, balding, homosexual". In 2002, he co-hosted BBC One
's A Song for Europe
competition to choose the UK entry into the Eurovision Song Contest
. He had previously hosted BBC Choice
shows relating to the contest, including the preview programmes. He had been scheduled to host BBC Choice
's alternative coverage of the 2002 contest before his death.
. On 22 April 2002, he failed to turn up for work and his close friends Robert Nisbet and Stephanie West went to his flat in Wells Street, off Oxford Street
, in central London
and found Price dead. Forensic pathologist Dr. Nicholas Hunt told the coroner's court on 19 June 2002 that Price had died of heart failure caused by meningoencephalitis
- an 'extremely rare' condition that had probably spread from his ear infection. Police found a small quantity of cocaine and prescription weight-loss drugs in Price's flat but they were not connected to his death.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
celebrity news show Liquid News
Liquid News
Liquid News was the daily round up of entertainment news for BBC Three running from 30th May 2000 to 1st April 2004. It was originally a vehicle for presenter Christopher Price...
.
Early life and career
Price was adoptedAdoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
shortly after his birth by a couple in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. In his early days, he attended Worth Abbey - a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
boarding school in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. After school, he studied Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
at Reading University
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
. However, he left university with the desire to become a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
- he enrolled into the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reporter training scheme in 1991. Once completed, he pursued his desire and in 1993, he became a reporter on Radio Berkshire - soon to move to Radio Solent. In March 1994, he joined BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
to eventually become a Senior Broadcast Journalist. He sometimes stood in for Sybil Ruscoe
Sybil Ruscoe
Sybil Ruscoe , is a radio and television presenterRuscoe began on the Express and Star newspaper in Wolverhampton. Then moved to Radio Wyvern in Worcester, Beacon Radio and BBC Radio Shropshire. She then teamed up with Simon Mayo on the Radio 1 Breakfast show in 1989...
, and occasionally presented Up All Night. He joined BBC News 24 when it was launched in November 1997 and presented a mixture of news, fashion, and entertainment in a 10:30pm slot. However, after nine months, he was called to the office of a senior colleague and told that he was too camp to read the news. He and the producer Chris Wilson put together a nightly entertainment news discussion programme called Zero 30. After Stuart Murphy said that he enjoyed the programme he was persuaded to take it to digital television channel BBC Choice
BBC Choice
BBC Choice was a BBC TV station which launched on 23 September 1998 and closed on 9 February 2003. It was the first British TV channel to broadcast exclusively in digital format, and was the first new channel from the BBC since BBC Two launched in 1964...
where it became Liquid News
Liquid News
Liquid News was the daily round up of entertainment news for BBC Three running from 30th May 2000 to 1st April 2004. It was originally a vehicle for presenter Christopher Price...
on 30th May 2000. In early 2001, he hit the headlines when he signed a £280,000 two-year contract for presenting Liquid News. At the time, Christopher himself was quoted as jokingly saying that he didn't understand why people would want to watch a programme presented by a "fat, balding, homosexual". In 2002, he co-hosted BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe may refer to:*A Song for Europe, former name of British pre-selection competition for the Eurovision Song Contest, now known as Eurovision: Your Country Needs You...
competition to choose the UK entry into the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. He had previously hosted BBC Choice
BBC Choice
BBC Choice was a BBC TV station which launched on 23 September 1998 and closed on 9 February 2003. It was the first British TV channel to broadcast exclusively in digital format, and was the first new channel from the BBC since BBC Two launched in 1964...
shows relating to the contest, including the preview programmes. He had been scheduled to host BBC Choice
BBC Choice
BBC Choice was a BBC TV station which launched on 23 September 1998 and closed on 9 February 2003. It was the first British TV channel to broadcast exclusively in digital format, and was the first new channel from the BBC since BBC Two launched in 1964...
's alternative coverage of the 2002 contest before his death.
Death
Towards the end of April 2002, he was off work for a week with an acute ear infectionOtitis media
Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear, or a middle ear infection.It occurs in the area between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear, including a duct known as the eustachian tube. It is one of the two categories of ear inflammation that can underlie what is commonly called an earache,...
. On 22 April 2002, he failed to turn up for work and his close friends Robert Nisbet and Stephanie West went to his flat in Wells Street, off Oxford Street
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
, in central London
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
and found Price dead. Forensic pathologist Dr. Nicholas Hunt told the coroner's court on 19 June 2002 that Price had died of heart failure caused by meningoencephalitis
Meningoencephalitis
Meningoencephalitis is a medical condition that simultaneously resembles both meningitis, which is an infection or inflammation of the meninges, and encephalitis, which is an infection or inflammation of the brain.-Causes:...
- an 'extremely rare' condition that had probably spread from his ear infection. Police found a small quantity of cocaine and prescription weight-loss drugs in Price's flat but they were not connected to his death.