George Gale (journalist)
Encyclopedia
George Gale was a British journalist who was editor of the British
political magazine The Spectator
from 1970 to 1973. He was educated at the independent Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
and Peterhouse, Cambridge
where he graduated with a double-first in History.
In 1951 he joined Manchester Guardian
as a leader writer and reporter on Labour Affairs. In 1955 he moved to the Daily Express
where he remained until 1967 (he returned there 1976–86) when he joined the Daily Mirror for three years until he took up the position at The Spectator.
His time at The Spectator is best remembered for his support of Enoch Powell
and his appointment of Peter Ackroyd
as its literary critic. After Auberon Waugh
changed Gale's name in the published list of contributors to either "Lunchtime O'Booze" or "Lunchtime O'Gale" (accounts vary, but "Lunchtime O'Booze" is the Private Eye
term for the archetypal drunken journalist
), Waugh was sacked from The Spectator by its then editor Nigel Lawson
. Gale, ironically, invited Waugh back after he had become editor.
He also enjoyed long stint as a columnist on The Daily Mail and in the mid 1980s was a regular panellist on the revived version of television's What's My Line?. Gale's fondness for alcohol was also reflected in Private Eye's habit of referring to him as "George G. Ale".
Gale also presented a morning phone-in programme in the early days of LBC
, a commercial radio station in London.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
political magazine The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
from 1970 to 1973. He was educated at the independent Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
Royal Grammar School Newcastle upon Tyne, known locally and often abbreviated as RGS, is a long-established co-educational, independent school in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It gained its Royal Charter under Queen Elizabeth I...
and Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
where he graduated with a double-first in History.
In 1951 he joined Manchester Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
as a leader writer and reporter on Labour Affairs. In 1955 he moved to the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
where he remained until 1967 (he returned there 1976–86) when he joined the Daily Mirror for three years until he took up the position at The Spectator.
His time at The Spectator is best remembered for his support of Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
and his appointment of Peter Ackroyd
Peter Ackroyd
Peter Ackroyd CBE is an English biographer, novelist and critic with a particular interest in the history and culture of London. For his novels about English history and culture and his biographies of, among others, Charles Dickens, T. S. Eliot and Sir Thomas More he won the Somerset Maugham Award...
as its literary critic. After Auberon Waugh
Auberon Waugh
Auberon Alexander Waugh was a British author and journalist, son of the novelist Evelyn Waugh. He was known to his family and friends as Bron Waugh.-Life and career:...
changed Gale's name in the published list of contributors to either "Lunchtime O'Booze" or "Lunchtime O'Gale" (accounts vary, but "Lunchtime O'Booze" is the Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
term for the archetypal drunken 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...
), Waugh was sacked from The Spectator by its then editor Nigel Lawson
Nigel Lawson
Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC , is a British Conservative politician and journalist. He was a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Blaby from 1974–92, and served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the government of Margaret Thatcher from June 1983 to October 1989...
. Gale, ironically, invited Waugh back after he had become editor.
He also enjoyed long stint as a columnist on The Daily Mail and in the mid 1980s was a regular panellist on the revived version of television's What's My Line?. Gale's fondness for alcohol was also reflected in Private Eye's habit of referring to him as "George G. Ale".
Gale also presented a morning phone-in programme in the early days of LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
, a commercial radio station in London.