Tony Bastable facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony Bastable
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| Born | 15 October 1944 Hexham, Northumberland, United Kingdom
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| Died | 29 May 2007 (aged 62) |
| Occupation | Television presenter and producer |
| Spouse(s) | June Buchan (1969 - 1971) (divorced) Jacqueline Colkett (1974 - 1992) (divorced) Anita Westwood (2001 -2007) (his death) |
| Children | 1 |
Anthony Leslie "Tony" Bastable (born October 15, 1944 – died May 29, 2007) was a famous English television presenter. He was one of the first presenters on the popular children's TV show Magpie. He also produced many shows and wrote books for young people.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tony Bastable was born in Hexham, Northumberland, in 1944. His family later moved to Wembley, Middlesex. He went to Wembley Manor School and then to University College School in London.
After school, Tony trained to be a teacher. He taught British History part-time while also working as a reporter for local newspapers.
Television Career Highlights
In the early 1960s, Tony wanted to be a TV news reporter. He applied for a job at Southern Television but was told he was "too young." Instead, he got a job presenting a children's programme.
Soon after, he started working for ATV. He presented children's shows, sports shows, and educational programmes for schools.
Magpie: A Popular Children's Show
In 1968, Tony moved to Thames Television. He began presenting Magpie, a brand new children's show. He hosted it with Susan Stranks and Pete Brady.
Magpie was a very popular show. It was seen as a more modern version of the BBC's Blue Peter. In 1972, Tony even became the producer for Magpie.
Other TV Shows and Projects
During his career, Tony Bastable produced and presented many different types of shows. He worked on historical documentaries and programmes about current events. He also presented and commented on many live sports events.
He hosted Drive-In from 1973 to 1978, a show about cars, and its follow-up Wheels. In 1976, he presented 1776, an ITV programme about the 200th birthday of the USA. He also narrated the award-winning series English Garden, which featured Sir John Gielgud.
Tony presented Money-Go-Round for nine years. This show helped people with consumer protection issues. He also hosted Mind Over Matter, a show he created that looked into strange and unexplained events. He presented computer shows like Database and 4 Computer Buffs. Tony also appeared on radio shows and narrated the Channel 4 nature programme Profiles Of Nature.
Later Life and Books
Later in his life, Tony Bastable started his own production company. He made training and promotional films for big companies. These included the Ford Motor Company, the National Bus Company, and the Royal Navy.
He also wrote mini-history books for children. These books were about famous explorers from the 15th and 16th centuries, like John Cabot and Ferdinand Magellan.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Tony Bastable loved cricket. He was a qualified cricket umpire. He also founded the Institute of Cricket Umpires and Scorers. In 1972, he started his own cricket team called The Magpies, named after the TV show.
He was married three times and had one daughter.
Death
Tony Bastable suffered from a lung condition called emphysema in his later years. He passed away at the age of 62 from pneumonia on May 29, 2007. He died at the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, Surrey.
