Russell Davies facts for kids

Robert Russell Davies, born on April 5, 1946, is a well-known British journalist and broadcaster. He has worked in many areas of media, from writing for newspapers to hosting popular radio and TV shows. He is especially famous for his work on BBC Radio, where he shares his knowledge of music and quizzes.

About Russell Davies

Early Life and Education

Russell Davies was born in Barmouth, a town in North Wales. He went to Manchester Grammar School from 1957 to 1964. While there, he was active in drama and even became the school's vice-captain.

He earned a scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge. In 1967, he graduated with a top degree in Modern and Mediaeval Languages. He started studying German literature after college. However, he soon left his studies to join the Cambridge Footlights comedy group. During his time at Cambridge, he also drew cartoons for the student newspaper, Varsity. He used the pseudonym "Dai" for his drawings.

His Career in Media

In 1970, Russell Davies appeared on three London Weekend Television shows. He co-starred with other Footlights members like Pete Atkin and Clive James. Two of these shows, The Party's Moving On and What Are You Doing After the Show?, were comedy shows. They featured original music, sketches, and commentary. The third show, Think Twice, was a discussion about the arts.

As a journalist, Davies wrote for many famous newspapers. He was a film and TV critic for The Observer and The Sunday Times. He also wrote features and sports columns for The Daily Telegraph. He drew caricatures for The Times Literary Supplement. He was even a deputy editor for Punch magazine. In the 1980s, he often appeared on TV. He presented Saturday Review for BBC2.

Radio Work

In 1988, Davies hosted a 12-part BBC radio series called Radio Fun. This series explored the history of comedy on the radio. It covered comedy from the 1930s up to modern times. The show was so popular that it was repeated many times on BBC Radio 7.

Davies is also a talented jazz trombonist. He has hosted many TV and radio shows about jazz music. In 1999, he presented Jazz Century, a year-long history of jazz for BBC Radio 3. He has also created other radio programs. These include BBC Radio 4's Word of Mouth. This show won an award in 1996. He also presented Legends of Light Music on Radio 2. This series was about songwriters Rodgers and Hart.

In 2003, Russell Davies wrote and presented Quest for Perfection. This was a film about the jazz clarinetist and bandleader Artie Shaw. It was shown on BBC Four. In 2006, his documentary about the cartoonist Ronald Searle was shown on the BBC.

He currently presents Brain of Britain on Radio 4. He first filled in for the regular host, Robert Robinson, when he was ill. Then, in 2010, he became the permanent host. From 1998 to 2013, he hosted 'The Russell Davies Song Show' on BBC Radio 2. This show explored the art and inspiration behind popular songs. It often featured music from 'The Great American Songbook'. He has also presented the BBC Radio 4 music quiz Counterpoint.

See also

• Edward Pygge, a name Davies sometimes used for writing.