Charles Wheeler (journalist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Charles Wheeler
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| Born |
Selwyn Charles Cornelius-Wheeler
26 March 1923 Bremen, Germany
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| Died | 4 July 2008 (aged 85) Warnham, Sussex, England
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| Education | Cranbrook School, Kent |
| Occupation | BBC News foreign correspondent |
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Notable credit(s)
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Newsnight, Dateline London, Panorama |
| Spouse(s) |
Catherine Dove
(m. 1958; div. 1962)Dip Singh
(m. 1962; died 2008) |
| Children | 2; including Marina |
| Relatives | Boris Johnson (son-in-law) Lara Johnson-Wheeler (granddaughter) |
Sir Charles Wheeler (born March 26, 1923 – died July 4, 2008) was a famous British journalist and TV presenter. He worked for the BBC for a very long time, starting in 1947. He became the BBC's longest-serving foreign correspondent, reporting from all over the world until he passed away. Charles Wheeler also presented popular BBC TV shows like Newsnight and Panorama.
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Early Life and Adventures
Charles Wheeler was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1923. His family later moved to Hamburg. He went to Cranbrook School in Kent, England. His very first job, at age 17, was delivering messages for the Daily Sketch newspaper.
Joining the Royal Marines
In 1942, during World War II, Charles joined the Royal Marines. He became a captain. He was part of a secret naval intelligence group called 30 Assault Unit. This group was put together by Ian Fleming, who later wrote the James Bond books! Charles took part in the Normandy landings, which was a huge event in World War II.
A Career in Journalism
After leaving the Royal Marines in 1947, Charles Wheeler started working for the BBC. He began as an editor for the Latin American part of the BBC World Service.
Reporting from Around the World
Charles's long career as a foreign correspondent began in 1950. He was sent to Berlin for three years, partly because he spoke German very well.
He returned to the UK in 1956 and became a producer for the new TV show Panorama. He traveled to Hungary to cover the Hungarian Uprising. Even though he was told not to, he took Panorama's camera into the country. He filmed the happy reactions of the Hungarian people during the rebellion. Just hours after he got back to Britain, Russia entered Hungary again and stopped the revolt.
Key Reporting Assignments
Charles later worked in New Delhi, India, where he reported on the 1959 Tibetan uprising. He went back to Berlin when the Berlin Wall was built and stayed there for several years.
From 1965 to 1973, he lived in Washington D.C., USA. There, he covered important events like the American Civil Rights Movement and the Watergate scandal. Later in his TV career, he was the American correspondent for Newsnight. Charles Wheeler was also the first presenter of BBC World's discussion show Dateline London.
Even in his later years, he continued to work. He presented documentaries on Radio 4 and contributed to the show From Our Own Correspondent. He was working on a program about the Dalai Lama just weeks before he passed away.
His Lasting Impact
After Charles Wheeler died, the British Journalism Review created an award in his honor. It's called the Charles Wheeler Award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcast Journalism. This award celebrates journalists who have done amazing work in TV and radio news. Some famous winners include Jeremy Paxman and Jeremy Bowen.
Personal Life and Honors
Charles Wheeler was married twice. His second marriage was to Dip Singh in 1962. They had two daughters: Marina Wheeler, who is a lawyer, and Shirin Wheeler, who was also a BBC correspondent.
In 2001, Charles was given the title of Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was also made a knight in 2006. These honors were for his great work in broadcasting and journalism around the world.
A Discovered Painting
In 2006, Charles Wheeler found out something interesting about a painting he received as a wedding gift in 1952. The painting, by Alessandro Allori, had been stolen during the Second World War. With help from an organization called the Commission for Looted Art in Europe, the painting was returned to its rightful owner, a museum in Berlin.
Charles Wheeler passed away from lung cancer at his home in Warnham, Sussex, England, on July 4, 2008. He was 85 years old.
