John Humphrys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Humphrys
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Humphrys in 2012
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| Born |
Desmond John Humphrys
17 August 1943 |
| Education | Cardiff High School |
| Occupation | Journalist, presenter |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Employer | BBC |
| Agent | Kruger Cowne Ltd |
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Notable credit(s)
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BBC Nine O'Clock News (1981–1987) Today (1987–2019) Mastermind (2003–2021) Celebrity Mastermind (2003–2021) |
| Spouse(s) |
Edna Wilding
(m. 1964, divorced) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Bob Humphrys (brother) |
Desmond John Humphrys (born 17 August 1943) is a Welsh broadcaster. He is well-known for his long career in news and television. From 1981 to 1987, he was a main presenter for the BBC Nine O'Clock News, which was a very important news show. After that, from 1987 until 2019, he hosted the Today breakfast show on BBC Radio 4.
John Humphrys also hosted the popular TV quiz show Mastermind on BBC Two for many years, from 2003 to 2021. He hosted a total of 735 episodes! Today, he presents a regular show on Classic FM on Sunday afternoons. He is known for being a tough and challenging interviewer, especially when talking to politicians.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Humphrys was born in Cardiff, Wales, on 17 August 1943. He grew up in a family with five children. When he was young, his mother decided to call him John instead of Desmond, because she worried he might be called 'Dismal Desmond'.
His parents encouraged him to study. He passed an important exam called the eleven plus exam, which allowed him to go to Cardiff High School. This was a grammar school at the time. However, John didn't feel like he fit in with the other students there. He was an average student and decided to leave school at 15. He chose not to go to university.
Starting His Career in Journalism
After leaving school, John Humphrys started his career as a reporter. His first job was at the Penarth Times, a local newspaper in Penarth, a town near Cardiff. This newspaper focused on news happening in the local area.
Later, he moved to a bigger regional newspaper in Cardiff called the Western Mail. In 1966, he joined a commercial TV channel in Wales called Television Wales and the West (TWW). He was one of the first reporters to arrive at the scene of the Aberfan disaster in October 1966. This was a very sad event where a coal waste tip collapsed, causing a lot of damage and loss of life.
Working at the BBC
John Humphrys joined the BBC later in 1966. He started as a reporter in Liverpool and the north-west of England. He reported on important events like dock strikes, sometimes for the national news.
Foreign Correspondent
He then became a foreign correspondent, which meant he traveled to other countries to report on news. At first, he had to leave his family for many months at a time. Later, he took his family with him when he was sent to open new news offices in the United States and South Africa.
While working abroad, he reported on major world events. He reported on the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the United States in 1974. He also reported on the end of Rhodesia and the creation of the new country of Zimbabwe when he was based in South Africa. After a while, he grew tired of living in hotels and traveling constantly. In 1980, he returned to London to become the BBC's Diplomatic Correspondent.
News Presenter Roles
In 1981, John Humphrys became a main presenter for the BBC's main news program, the BBC Nine O'Clock News. This was a big change for the BBC. Along with another journalist, John Simpson, presenters started to be more involved in preparing the news broadcast, not just reading a script.
In January 1987, he began presenting the Today program on BBC Radio 4. He worked alongside Brian Redhead. Even after moving to radio, he still appeared on BBC Television news sometimes in the 1990s. During the 1991 Gulf War, he volunteered to present on a special BBC radio news service.
Other TV Shows
From 1993 to 2002, John Humphrys presented a weekly political TV show called On The Record. He also presented Panorama, which is a well-known investigative journalism program.
One of his most famous roles was hosting the quiz show Mastermind. He took over as host in 2003 and continued until 2021. He was the fourth regular host of the show.
Key Interviews and Departures
In November 2012, John Humphrys interviewed the Director-General of the BBC, George Entwistle, on the Today program. This interview was widely reported and was seen as a major reason for Entwistle's resignation later that day. During the interview, Entwistle admitted he didn't know about a specific news investigation until after it was broadcast.
In February 2019, John Humphrys announced he would be leaving the Today program. He said he probably should have left "years ago." His final show was on 19 September 2019.
On 6 February 2021, he announced he would also be leaving Mastermind after 18 years. His last episode aired on 26 April 2021. He was replaced by TV presenter Clive Myrie.
Other Interests and Activities
John Humphrys has written several books. These include Lost for Words, where he talks about how he thinks the English language is often used incorrectly. He also wrote Devil's Advocate, Beyond Words, The Great Food Gamble, and In God We Doubt: Confessions of a Failed Atheist. In September 2019, he released his memoir, A Day Like Today, which shared his thoughts on the BBC.
He also appeared as himself in the 2013 film Closed Circuit, which is a crime thriller. After leaving the BBC, he started writing a weekly column for the Daily Mail newspaper. He also became a presenter on Classic FM on Sunday afternoons.
John Humphrys is a very keen gardener. He even makes his own compost for his garden.
Charity Work
In 2005, John Humphrys started a charity called Kitchen Table Charities Trust (KTCT). This charity collects money and gives small grants to projects, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa. These projects help people in need in various ways.
Personal Life
John Humphrys married Edna Wilding in 1964. They had two children, a son named Christopher and a daughter named Catherine. Their marriage ended in the late 1980s. Edna passed away in 1997. John's son, Christopher, is now a professional cellist, and his daughter, Catherine, is a professional vegan chef.
In 2000, John Humphrys had another son, Owen James, with his partner at the time, Valerie Sanderson. Valerie was a newsreader. John and Valerie later separated. In 2009, he began a relationship with journalist Catherine Bennett.
John's brother, Bob Humphrys, was also a television presenter for sports news on BBC Wales. Sadly, Bob passed away in 2008 at the age of 56.
John Humphrys enjoys listening to classical music. He was a guest on the BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs in 2008. His favorite piece of music on the show was Elgar's Cello Concerto.
Awards and Recognition
John Humphrys has received many awards for his work in broadcasting. In February 2000, he was named Journalist of the Year. In 2003, he won the Gold Sony Radio Award, which is a very important award in radio. He also received an award for clear broadcasting from the Plain English Campaign.
He has an honorary degree from Abertay University in Scotland.
