William Hardcastle (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
William Hardcastle was a British
journalist
, editor
of the Daily Mail
and first presenter of the lunchtime news programme The World at One
on BBC Radio
.
Hardcastle was born in Newcastle upon Tyne
, and educated at the Newcastle Preparatory School and Durham School
.
His early intention to follow his father into the medical profession was thwarted when he contracted osteomyelitis
as a fifteen year old, and in 1938 he joined the Shields Gazette
as a reporter.
Unfit for active service, Hardcastle remained a journalist throughout the Second World War, moving in turn to the Sheffield Telegraph
, the London bureau of Kemsley Newspapers and Reuters
. In 1944 he became Reuters’ correspondent at Supreme Allied Headquarters, followed by postings to New York and Washington.
In 1959 Hardcastle was appointed editor of the Sunday Dispatch
, and after two months in that job was moved to become editor of the Daily Mail until 1963, covering the period when it absorbed the News Chronicle
. He then moved into broadcasting. On 4 October 1965, he became the launch presenter of The World at One on the BBC Home Service
and then BBC Radio 4
. He retained this role until his death in 1975, and from 1970 also hosted the PM programme
.
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...
, editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
and first presenter of the lunchtime news programme The World at One
The World At One
The World at One, or WATO for short, is BBC Radio 4's long-running lunchtime news and current affairs programme, which is broadcast from 1pm to 1:30pm from Monday to Friday. The programme describes itself as "Britain's leading political programme. With a reputation for rigorous and original...
on 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...
.
Hardcastle was born in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, and educated at the Newcastle Preparatory School and Durham School
Durham School
Durham School, headmaster Martin George , is an independent British day and boarding school for boys and girls in Durham....
.
His early intention to follow his father into the medical profession was thwarted when he contracted osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow...
as a fifteen year old, and in 1938 he joined the Shields Gazette
Shields Gazette
The Shields Gazette, established in 1849, is a daily evening newspaper. It is the oldest provincial evening newspaper in the United Kingdom....
as a reporter.
Unfit for active service, Hardcastle remained a journalist throughout the Second World War, moving in turn to the Sheffield Telegraph
Sheffield Telegraph
The Sheffield Telegraph is a weekly newspaper published in Sheffield, England.-History:Founded in 1855 as the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, it was the city's first daily newspaper, published at 08:00 each morning. The newspaper struggled until W. C...
, the London bureau of Kemsley Newspapers and Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
. In 1944 he became Reuters’ correspondent at Supreme Allied Headquarters, followed by postings to New York and Washington.
In 1959 Hardcastle was appointed editor of the Sunday Dispatch
Sunday Dispatch
The Sunday Dispatch was a British newspaper, published between 27 September 1801 and 1961. Until 1928, it was called the Weekly Dispatch.-History:...
, and after two months in that job was moved to become editor of the Daily Mail until 1963, covering the period when it absorbed the News Chronicle
News Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
. He then moved into broadcasting. On 4 October 1965, he became the launch presenter of The World at One on the BBC Home Service
BBC Home Service
The BBC Home Service was a British national radio station which broadcast from 1939 until 1967.-Development:Between the 1920s and the outbreak of The Second World War, the BBC had developed two nationwide radio services, the BBC National Programme and the BBC Regional Programme...
and then 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...
. He retained this role until his death in 1975, and from 1970 also hosted the PM programme
PM (Radio 4)
PM, sometimes referred to as the PM programme to avoid ambiguity, is BBC Radio 4's long-running early evening news and current affairs programme.-Broadcast times:...
.