Nick Clarke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nick Clarke
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| Born |
Nicholas Campbell Clarke
9 June 1948 |
| Died | 23 November 2006 (aged 58) |
| Education | Westbourne House School Bradfield College |
| Alma mater | Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Radio presenter, television presenter, journalist |
| Employer | Yorkshire Evening Post BBC |
Nicholas Campbell Clarke (born June 9, 1948 – died November 23, 2006) was a well-known English radio and television presenter. He was also a journalist. Most people knew him for his work on BBC Radio 4, where he hosted popular news shows.
Contents
About Nick Clarke: A Life in Broadcasting
Early Life and Education
Nick Clarke was born in 1948 in Godalming, a town in Surrey, England. He went to several schools, including Westbourne House School and Bradfield College. Later, he studied at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, which is part of the famous University of Cambridge.
Starting His Career in News
Nick Clarke began his career working for newspapers. His first job was at the Yorkshire Evening Post. In 1973, he joined the BBC. He started as a reporter covering industrial news in the North of England.
He then moved to television, working on popular BBC shows. He was part of The Money Programme, which focused on financial news. Later, in 1984, he joined Newsnight, a well-known current affairs program.
Becoming a Radio Star
Nick Clarke found his biggest success in radio. His first major role was on BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend. From 1994 until his death, he hosted The World at One. This was a very popular lunchtime news program on Radio 4.
During the 1991 Gulf War, he volunteered to present news on a special BBC Radio 4 service called News FM. He also hosted other shows, including the Round Britain Quiz and the debate series Straw Poll. Sometimes, he would fill in as host for Any Questions? when Jonathan Dimbleby was away. Nick Clarke also worked as a reporter for the BBC TV program Look North, which covered news for the North of England.
Awards and Books
In 2001, Nick Clarke won the Broadcasting Press Guild broadcaster of the year award. This award recognized his excellent work in radio and television.
He also wrote books. One was a biography about the famous writer and journalist Alistair Cooke. He also wrote a book called The Shadow of a Nation: How Celebrity Destroyed Britain. This book looked at the social history of Britain in the second half of the 20th century.
Later Life and Legacy
In December 2005, it was announced that Nick Clarke was battling cancer. He had surgery, which led to the loss of his left leg. During this time, he kept an audio diary about his experiences. This diary was broadcast on Radio 4 in June 2006, sharing his journey with listeners.
Nick Clarke returned to host The World at One in August 2006. However, his last appearance on the show was on September 12, 2006. He passed away on November 23, 2006.
After his death, the BBC created the Nick Clarke Award in 2007. This award celebrates the best broadcast interview of the year. It is given out annually at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Friends from his university also set up the 'Nick Clarke Prize' in his memory.
Nick Clarke even had a fun role in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He presented a pretend World at One program for one of the radio series, alongside Patrick Moore.
See also
- Nick Clarke Award
