Alan Whicker
Alan Donald Whicker, CBE (born
August 2,
1925) is a
British journalist and
broadcaster.
Whicker, aged 14 at the beginning of the second world war, joined the (British) Army Film and Photo Unit in Italy in 1943, serving as an officer of the
Devonshire Regiment, filming at
Anzio, and meeting such influential figures as
Bernard Montgomery. In 2004, Whicker appeared in a successful television series on this topic, entitled
Whicker's War.
After the second world war, Whicker became a journalist and broadcaster, acting as a newspaper correspondent during the
Korean War (during which time his death was
mistakenly reported), and after joining the BBC in 1957, was a reporter for the famous
Tonight programme. Whicker later went on to present a television programme for which he's best known, the long-running television series
Whicker's World. Whicker continued to present this for nearly 30 years (from 1959 until 1988) and was also instrumental in launching
Yorkshire Television, producing television programmes for them from 1969 until 1992.
Particularly whilst presenting
Whicker's World, Whicker was well known for his particularly subtle brand of satire, and makes an excellent social commentator, a fact attested to by the longevity both of
Whicker's World itself, and also by the appeal it holds for those who enjoy it.
Whicker's World was lampooned in a
Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch; it featured a tropical island where all the inhabitants dress and act like Alan Whicker.
Whicker is the man behind the popular advertising slogan "Hello World", for travelocity.co.uk
In the New Year's Honours List published
31 December 2004 he was created a
Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to Broadcasting.
Alan Whicker is
Cockney Rhyming Slang for
knickers, as in "Keep yer Alans on!", andâ€"by extensionâ€"for
one pound sterling, as in "It'll cost yer ten Alans, san."
