Cliff Michelmore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cliff Michelmore
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Portrait by Vivienne, c. 1955–1965
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Arthur Clifford Michelmore
11 December 1919 Cowes, Isle of Wight, England
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| Died | 16 March 2016 (aged 96) Petersfield, Hampshire, England
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| Education | Loughborough College |
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Notable credit(s)
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Jean Metcalfe
(m. 1950; died 2000) |
| Children | 2, including Guy |
Arthur Clifford Michelmore (born December 11, 1919 – died March 16, 2016) was a famous English television presenter and producer. He was known for his calm and friendly style.
He is best known for the BBC television show Tonight. He presented this popular show from 1957 to 1965. Cliff Michelmore also hosted the BBC's TV coverage of many big events. These included the Apollo Moon landings and the Aberfan disaster. He also covered UK general elections in 1966 and 1970. Other major events he reported on were the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.
He received a special award in 1969. It was called the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This award recognized his important work.
Growing Up
Cliff Michelmore was born in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. This was on December 11, 1919. He was the youngest of six children. His father passed away when Cliff was only two years old. His mother raised him and his five siblings. They lived in a house near the Cowes boatyards.
He went to Cowes Secondary School. There, he was a top student and captain of the cricket team. He also studied at Loughborough College. During the Second World War, he was a squadron leader in the Royal Air Force. He started broadcasting on British Forces Network radio during this time.
TV Career Highlights
After the war, Cliff Michelmore worked for BBC Radio and television. He started as a sports commentator. Then he became a news reporter. He also produced children's shows, like All Your Own.
From 1955 to 1957, Michelmore presented Highlight. This was a current affairs show. On February 18, 1957, he became the main presenter for Tonight. This was a new weekday magazine show on BBC Television. It ran for eight years. At its most popular, eight million people watched it. This made him one of the most famous people in the UK. In 1958, he was named Television Personality of the Year.
He was on air when the news of the assassination of John F. Kennedy broke in 1963. Michelmore also introduced a young David Bowie to TV audiences. This happened on Tonight in 1964. Bowie was there to talk about 'The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men'. One of his most memorable reports was in October 1966. He covered the Aberfan disaster. This was a sad event where many children and adults died.
When Tonight ended in 1965, Michelmore hosted 24 Hours. This show ran until 1968. In 1967, he presented the UK part of Our World. This was a huge worldwide TV broadcast. It was the first to use satellites a lot. It tried to "connect the whole world by television." The famous band the Beatles performed their song "All You Need Is Love" on this show.
Michelmore also presented the coverage of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon in 1969. He worked with James Burke and Patrick Moore. In the 1970s, he was a main presenter for the local news show Day by Day. When the BBC closed its Lime Grove Studios in 1991, Michelmore presented the very last broadcast from there.
After leaving full-time TV work, Michelmore led a new video division at EMI. He was a regular presenter on the BBC1 show Holiday from 1969 to 1986. He also presented other shows for BBC TV, ITV, and BBC Radio. In 2007, he returned to BBC Parliament. He presented a program about the 1967 devaluation of the pound.
Family Life
Cliff Michelmore married Jean Metcalfe on March 4, 1950. Jean was also a BBC announcer. They first met through their work on a radio show. They quickly fell in love and got married. Michelmore called it "love at first hearing."
They had two children together. Their daughter is actress Jenny Michelmore. Their son is broadcaster and composer Guy Michelmore. Both of their children have families of their own.
Cliff Michelmore lived in South Harting, West Sussex, later in his life. He passed away at Petersfield Hospital in Hampshire on March 16, 2016. He was 96 years old. The Director-General of the BBC, Tony Hall, said he was a very important national figure. He was described as natural, warm, and engaging. Cliff Michelmore was buried in the graveyard of Saint Mary & Saint Gabriel Church in South Harting.
