Stewart White (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Stewart White is a British
journalist
, presenter
and newsreader
, most famous for presenting the East Anglia
n regional BBC News
programme Look East. Beginning his career at several regional BBC Radio
stations he later became a presenter and continuity announcer for Central Independent Television
. In 1984 he became the lead presenter on Look East, where he has remained for 25 years.
, White's first job was at a grocer
s. White's first job for the BBC
was a live introduction to a Vietnam
ese television programme on the BBC World Service
. From this he began a career working for BBC Radio
. Beginning at BBC Radio Brighton, he moved to BBC Radio Derby
, where he produced and presented several different programmes. He left to present the daily mid-morning show on the Birmingham
radio station 96.4 BRMB. There, he interviewed such people as former Prime Minister
Edward Heath
, actress Joan Collins
and singer Michael Jackson
. He would be the last journalist in Britain to conduct a live interview with Jackson.
White made the transition from radio to television by joining ATV
as a continuity announcer, and worked on a number of programmes including Star Soccer, Something Different as well as presenting several documentaries. After ATV became Central Independent Television
in 1982, White stayed at the channel, becoming the first human to appear on the satirical puppet show Spitting Image
. For several years he provided the BBC Radio 5 Live
football updates from East Anglia, and presented a weekly programme on BBC Radio Norfolk
.
In 1984, White moved back to the BBC to front BBC Look East
, which he has presented for 25 years. His current co-anchor is Susie Fowler-Watt, whom he describes as: "A joy to present with. There is absolute trust between us, she can challenge people when it is needed, be light hearted when it is needed and, most importantly, we never try to upstage each other". Whilst at Look East, White has been involved in two minor controversies relating to swearing
live on air. In July 2002, when White was interviewing a member of the Cambridgeshire
county council, a feed from one of the show's video editors in the production gantry was accidentally broadcast; the editor was shouting multiple expletives at the time. The following month a prerecorded rehearsal of the Look East headlines (which featured White exclaiming "bugger" after making a mistake) was broadcast by mistake. As presenter of Look East, White has hosted a number regional events, including the east's coverage of Children in Need
, and other charitable evenings.
His journalism has won him several awards. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC Nations and Regions Ruby Television Awards in 2006, and has also won a Creative Industries' Media Personality of the Year Award. He won the Royal Television Society
Television Personality of the Year in 2003 and Television News Presenter of the Year in 2000. He was nominated for the Royal Television Society Award for Presenter of the Year in 2007, but lost out to Jeremy Paxman
.
player.
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...
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...
, presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and newsreader
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
, most famous for presenting the East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
n regional BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
programme Look East. Beginning his career at several regional BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
stations he later became a presenter and continuity announcer for Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
. In 1984 he became the lead presenter on Look East, where he has remained for 25 years.
Career
Growing up in WiltshireWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, White's first job was at a grocer
Grocer
A grocer is a bulk seller of food. Beginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee...
s. White's first job for 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...
was a live introduction to a Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese television programme on the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
. From this he began a career working for BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
. Beginning at BBC Radio Brighton, he moved to BBC Radio Derby
BBC Radio Derby
BBC Radio Derby is the BBC Local Radio station for the English county of Derbyshire, covering all but the northern tip of the county, and also serves eastern Staffordshire, mainly Uttoxeter and Burton upon Trent. The station broadcasts from its studios in Derby on 104.5, 95.3 and 96.0 FM and 1116...
, where he produced and presented several different programmes. He left to present the daily mid-morning show on the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
radio station 96.4 BRMB. There, he interviewed such people as former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
, actress Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
and singer Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
. He would be the last journalist in Britain to conduct a live interview with Jackson.
White made the transition from radio to television by joining ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
as a continuity announcer, and worked on a number of programmes including Star Soccer, Something Different as well as presenting several documentaries. After ATV became Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
in 1982, White stayed at the channel, becoming the first human to appear on the satirical puppet show Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
. For several years he provided the BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
football updates from East Anglia, and presented a weekly programme on BBC Radio Norfolk
BBC Radio Norfolk
BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Norfolk, broadcasting since 11 September 1980. It broadcasts from the studios of BBC East in The Forum, Norwich on 95.1 FM , 104.4 FM , 95.6 FM , 855 kHz AM/MW , 873 kHz AM/MW BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local...
.
In 1984, White moved back to the BBC to front BBC Look East
Look East
BBC Look East is the BBC's regional television news programme for the BBC East region, covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, north Buckinghamshire and southern Lincolnshire....
, which he has presented for 25 years. His current co-anchor is Susie Fowler-Watt, whom he describes as: "A joy to present with. There is absolute trust between us, she can challenge people when it is needed, be light hearted when it is needed and, most importantly, we never try to upstage each other". Whilst at Look East, White has been involved in two minor controversies relating to swearing
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
live on air. In July 2002, when White was interviewing a member of the Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
county council, a feed from one of the show's video editors in the production gantry was accidentally broadcast; the editor was shouting multiple expletives at the time. The following month a prerecorded rehearsal of the Look East headlines (which featured White exclaiming "bugger" after making a mistake) was broadcast by mistake. As presenter of Look East, White has hosted a number regional events, including the east's coverage of Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
, and other charitable evenings.
His journalism has won him several awards. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC Nations and Regions Ruby Television Awards in 2006, and has also won a Creative Industries' Media Personality of the Year Award. He won the Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
Television Personality of the Year in 2003 and Television News Presenter of the Year in 2000. He was nominated for the Royal Television Society Award for Presenter of the Year in 2007, but lost out to Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Dickson Paxman is a British journalist, author and television presenter. He has worked for the BBC since 1977. He is noted for a forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians...
.
Personal life
White is married with three children, lives in South Norfolk and is an avid golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
player.