Brian Redhead
Brian Redhead (
28 December 1929 -
23 January 1994) was a
British author, journalist and broadcaster. He was probably best known as a co-presenter of the
Today programme on
BBC Radio 4 which he worked on from 1975 until 1993, shortly before his death. He was a great lover and promoter of the city of
Manchester where he lived and worked for many years.
|
Brian Redhead from cover of Personal Perspectives |
Brian Redhead was born in
Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was educated at
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle and
Downing College,
Cambridge.
His career in journalism started in 1954 as a journalist for the
Manchester Guardian newspaper. Later in his career he worked as editor of the
Manchester Evening News. For many years he chaired the Saturday night
Radio 4 topical conversation programme
A Word In Edgeways. He joined
Today after being passed over for the editorship of
The Guardian in favour of
Peter Preston.
During his time on the
Today programme, Redhead was famously accused of political bias by
Conservative Chancellor Nigel Lawson, and in reply enquired "Do you think we should have a one minute silence now in this interview, one for you to apologise for daring to suggest that you know how I vote and secondly perhaps in memory of monetarism which you have now discarded." He later had a similar set-to with
Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Lilley.
The death of Redhead's son in a car crash in 1982 led him to rediscover religious faith, and he became a confirmed member of the
Church of England. In the last years of his life there was some speculation after his retirement from
Today he would train for
ordination as an Anglican
priest. In the
Radio 4 series
The Good Book he charted the history of the Bible.
In 1993 his health started to fail and he was in pain on his left side and leg. He was thought to need hip surgery, but in fact had a ruptured
appendix which was leaking toxins, causing
liver and
kidney failure and other problems. He took leave from
Today in early December, expecting to return after Christmas, but never returned, dying in January 1994.
*Brian Redhead
Manchester - a Celebration. André Deutsch Limited, London. ISBN 0233988165
*Brian Redhead
Personal Perspectives. Harper Collins Publishers January, 1996 Hardcover ISBN 0006386857
*Brian Redhead
Plato to NATO: Studies on political thought. Penguin Books 23 February, 1995 ISBN 0140246770
*
Radio Hall of Fame: Brian Redhead*
Manchester Celebrities: Brian Redhead
