John Wilson (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
John Richard Wilson is a British journalist and broadcaster. He is the son of Bob Wilson, former Arsenal goalkeeper and television sports presenter.
in 1965. He attended Chancellor's School
in Hertfordshire and gained a BA (Hons) in English and Media from the University of Southampton
in 1988. He worked as a reporter on local newspapers in north London before beginning his radio career in 1990, presenting and reporting for the BBC Radio Five magazine show The Mix. He has presented numerous programmes and series on BBC Radio 4
including The Sports Programme, The Cultural State, The Fixers, Kaleidoscope, Stealing Beauty and Pick Of The Week. He has also made features and documentaries for Radio One
and Five Live
and has written about art and cultural issues for publications including The Observer
and The Art Newspaper.
John Wilson is one of the regular presenters of Front Row
, the Radio 4 arts programme. He specialises in music-related interviews for the programme and has interviewed artists such as David Bowie
, Elton John
, Paul McCartney
, Quincy Jones
, Noel Gallagher
, Bernie Taupin
, Kate Bush
, Ray Davies
and Peter Gabriel
.
In 2007 he began appearing on television, as an occasional presenter of Newsnight Review.
He is co-author with his brother, photographer Robert Wilson, of One: Images of Goalkeeping Season. In 1995/96 he also edited the pioneering internet magazine Trigger.co.uk. He is the son of legendary Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presenter Bob Wilson.
Life and career
John Wilson was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1965. He attended Chancellor's School
Chancellor's School
Chancellor's School in Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire, is a secondary school . It has 1043 boys and girls aged 11-18. It is a foundation comprehensive school, specialising in maths and computing.-Headmaster:...
in Hertfordshire and gained a BA (Hons) in English and Media from the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
in 1988. He worked as a reporter on local newspapers in north London before beginning his radio career in 1990, presenting and reporting for the BBC Radio Five magazine show The Mix. He has presented numerous programmes and series on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
including The Sports Programme, The Cultural State, The Fixers, Kaleidoscope, Stealing Beauty and Pick Of The Week. He has also made features and documentaries for Radio One
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
and Five 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...
and has written about art and cultural issues for publications including The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
and The Art Newspaper.
John Wilson is one of the regular presenters of Front Row
Front Row (radio)
Front Row is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The BBC describes the programme as a "live magazine programme on the world of arts, literature, film, media and music." It is broadcast each week day between 7.15 and 7.45 and has a of highlights available for download. Shows usually include...
, the Radio 4 arts programme. He specialises in music-related interviews for the programme and has interviewed artists such as David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
, Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
, Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
, Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
and Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
.
In 2007 he began appearing on television, as an occasional presenter of Newsnight Review.
He is co-author with his brother, photographer Robert Wilson, of One: Images of Goalkeeping Season. In 1995/96 he also edited the pioneering internet magazine Trigger.co.uk. He is the son of legendary Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presenter Bob Wilson.