Michael Buerk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Buerk
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Buerk in 2012
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| Born |
Michael Duncan Buerk
18 February 1946 Solihull, Warwickshire, England
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| Education | UWI Cardiff |
| Occupation | TV presenter, newsreader, journalist |
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Notable credit(s)
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BBC News Britain's Secret Treasures 999 Heir Hunters |
| Spouse(s) |
Christine Lilley
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 2, including Roland |
Michael Duncan Buerk (born 18 February 1946) is a well-known British journalist and news presenter. He worked for BBC News for many years, from 1973 to 2002. He has also hosted The Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4 since 1990. From 1992 to 2003, he presented 999, a show about emergency services. More recently, he presented Royal Recipes, a TV programme about food.
Contents
Growing Up: Michael Buerk's Early Life
Michael Buerk was born on 18 February 1946 in Solihull, a town in England. He went to Solihull School, which is a private school. While he was there, he was part of the Combined Cadet Force, which teaches young people about military skills. He also played sports for his school.
Michael hoped to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) when he grew up. However, he couldn't join because he failed an eyesight test. For a short time, he worked as a hod carrier, which means he carried bricks and other building materials for construction workers.
Becoming a Reporter and Newsreader
Michael Buerk started his career in journalism at local newspapers. These included the Bromsgrove Messenger and the South Wales Echo. In 1970, he joined BBC Radio Bristol, where he was the first person heard on air. He then became a reporter for BBC News in 1973.
Reporting on Apartheid in South Africa
From 1983 to 1987, Michael Buerk was the BBC's reporter in South Africa. This was during the final years of apartheid. Apartheid was a system of unfair laws that separated people based on their race. Michael Buerk's reports showed the harsh realities of this system. Because of his honest reporting, the South African government made him leave the country after four years.
The Ethiopian Famine: A Life-Changing Report
In October 1984, Michael Buerk reported on a terrible famine in Ethiopia. A famine is when there is not enough food for many people, leading to starvation. His powerful report showed the world how bad the situation was. This report inspired the creation of the Band Aid charity record. It also led to the huge Live Aid concerts, which raised a lot of money to help. His reporting is seen as a very important moment in how news covers big crises.
Later, he became a main news anchor for important BBC news shows. These included the BBC Nine O'Clock News and BBC News at Ten. He even read the first BBC News bulletin of the year 2000. Michael Buerk announced he would stop presenting BBC News in 2002. However, he continued to host other programmes. He also sometimes appeared on BBC News as a guest presenter until 2004.
Other TV and Radio Work
Michael Buerk has worked on many other projects. In 2010, he narrated a reality show called Pineapple Dance Studios. He also made several guest appearances on the BBC's The One Show.
Since 2012, he has co-presented Britain's Secret Treasures on ITV. In this show, he and Bettany Hughes look at amazing archaeological finds made by people in Britain. In 2013, he started hosting Inside the National Trust, a documentary series.
On the radio, Michael Buerk has hosted The Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4 since 1990. He has also hosted The Choice since 1998. In 2013, he even voiced an advert for Marmite, a popular food spread.
In 2014, Michael Buerk took part in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. This is a reality show where celebrities live in a jungle camp. He was the third person to be voted off the show.
Helping Charities
Michael Buerk has also done a lot of work for charity. In 2007, he appeared on a celebrity version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with Jennie Bond. They won £64,000 for Action for Children, a children's charity. He also supports the British Red Cross.
For the BBC's Children in Need charity event, Michael Buerk has performed several times. In 2004, he dressed up and performed songs by Duran Duran. In 2005, he sang "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.
About Michael Buerk's Life
Michael Buerk lives in Guildford, England, with his wife, Christine. They have twin sons.
He received the Golden Nymph award at the Monte Carlo festival for his reports on the famine in Ethiopia. These reports were first shown on 23 October 1984. The video of the famine was filmed by Mohamed Amin. Michael Buerk later said that this broadcast was one of the most important pieces of television ever. It led to a huge wave of kindness around the world for Ethiopia, raising over $130 million.
Michael Buerk has also received honorary degrees from universities. In 1991, he was given an Honorary Degree (MA) by the University of Bath. In 2013, he received an honorary "Doctor of the University" degree from Surrey University.
Michael Buerk's TV and Radio Shows
Here are some of the TV and radio shows Michael Buerk has been involved with:
Television Shows
- BBC Points West – Reporter/Presenter
- BBC Midlands Today (executive producer)
- BBC South Today – Reporter
- BBC Nine O'Clock News (1976–2000)
- (Industrial correspondent, 1976–77; Energy/Scotland correspondent 1977–81; South Africa correspondent 1983–87; Main presenter 1988–2000)
- BBC Ten O'Clock News (2000–2003)
- BBC One O'Clock News (1986–2003)
- BBC Breakfast
- 999 (1992–2003)
- A Royal Wedding – HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex & Sophie Rhys-Jones (June 1999) – co-presenter with Sue Barker at Windsor.
- Total Eclipse (August 1999) – the main presenter for the historic solar Eclipse in Cornwall on BBC One.
- 2000 Today – Co-presenter
- The One Show (September 2010) – Stand-in presenter
- Pineapple Dance Studios (2010) – Narrator
- Britain's Secret Treasures (2012–13) – Co-presenter
- Inside the National Trust (2013) – Presenter
- Britain's Secret Homes (2013) – Co-presenter
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2014) – Contestant
- Pompeii with Michael Buerk (2016) – Presenter
- Royal Recipes (2017–present) – Presenter
- Heir Hunters (2017–present) - Presenter
- Britain by Boat (2018) - Co-presenter
- Celebrity 5 go Barging (2019) - Co-presenter
Radio Shows
- The Moral Maze (since 1990)
- The Choice (since 1998)
