Fyfe Robertson
Encyclopedia
Fyfe Robertson was a Scottish
television journalist.
He was born in Edinburgh
, Scotland
, and christened James. He was one of six children of Jane Dunlop and James Robertson, a miner, who became a minister in the United Free Church of Scotland
. He grew up in poverty but attended the High School of Glasgow
. After briefly studying medicine at Glasgow University, he became a reporter firstly with the Glasgow Herald and later in London with the Daily Herald and Daily Express
.
In 1943 Robertson joined Picture Post
magazine where he was picture editor and feature writer. His investigative abilities led to a crucial exposé of the Tanganyika groundnut scheme
. His report was quoted in the House of Commons
.
When Picture Post closed in 1957, he went to work in television. He is chiefly remembered for his association with the BBC
programme Tonight
. His bearded, haggard face topped by a tweed trilby hat and a slow over-emphatic Scottish voice became well known (usually introducing his reportage with a characteristic "Hellooo therrr, I'm Fyfe Robertson"), which led to parodies on radio comedy shows: firstly by Bill Pertwee
on Beyond Our Ken
as "Rife Hobertson", and also by Graeme Garden
(a fellow Scot) on I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, who began every item with an alleged Robertson catchphrase "I'm standing here...". For Tonight Robertson travelled widely providing serious stories as well as finding some remarkable eccentrics; he was often described as "our roving reporter".
When Tonight was replaced by 24 Hours
, Robertson continued in his same investigative manner. He presented a series for BBC television
, Brush Off the Dust, in which he visited several British museums, commenting on their collections, and in 1975 presented a series, Robbie, which ran for three seasons until 1977.
Despite being a heavy smoker, he remained in good health and whilst in his late 60s he took part in two exhausting televised expeditions, across the Scottish Highlands on horseback and paddling down the Severn
in a canoe
.
He married Elizabeth (Betty) Smith in 1928 and the couple had two daughters, Elizabeth, a singer and conductor, and Grace
, a well known photographer. Betty died in 1973 but Robertson married Vera Ford in 1978. In 1986 he experienced a heart attack shortly after appearing as a guest on This is Your Life
for Cliff Michelmore
. He died in Eastbourne
in 1987.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
television journalist.
He was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and christened James. He was one of six children of Jane Dunlop and James Robertson, a miner, who became a minister in the United Free Church of Scotland
United Free Church of Scotland
The United Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland...
. He grew up in poverty but attended the High School of Glasgow
High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
. After briefly studying medicine at Glasgow University, he became a reporter firstly with the Glasgow Herald and later in London with the Daily Herald and Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
.
In 1943 Robertson joined Picture Post
Picture Post
Picture Post was a prominent photojournalistic magazine published in the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1957. It is considered a pioneering example of photojournalism and was an immediate success, selling 1,700,000 copies a week after only two months...
magazine where he was picture editor and feature writer. His investigative abilities led to a crucial exposé of the Tanganyika groundnut scheme
Tanganyika groundnut scheme
The Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme was a plan to cultivate tracts of what is now Tanzania with peanuts. It was a project of the British Labour government of Clement Attlee. It was abandoned in 1951 at considerable cost to the taxpayers when it did not become profitable...
. His report was quoted in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
.
When Picture Post closed in 1957, he went to work in television. He is chiefly remembered for his association with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
programme Tonight
Tonight (1957 TV series)
Tonight was a BBC television current affairs programme presented by Cliff Michelmore and broadcast in Britain live on weekday evenings from February 1957 to 1965. The producers were the future Controller of BBC1 Donald Baverstock and the future Director-General of the BBC Alasdair Milne...
. His bearded, haggard face topped by a tweed trilby hat and a slow over-emphatic Scottish voice became well known (usually introducing his reportage with a characteristic "Hellooo therrr, I'm Fyfe Robertson"), which led to parodies on radio comedy shows: firstly by Bill Pertwee
Bill Pertwee
William Desmond Anthony Pertwee MBE is a British comedy actor. He is best known for playing the part of antagonist ARP Warden Hodges in the popular sitcom Dad's Army.-Early and personal life:...
on Beyond Our Ken
Beyond Our Ken
Beyond Our Ken was a radio comedy programme, the predecessor to Round the Horne . Both programmes starred Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee, with announcer Douglas Smith. Musical accompaniment was provided by the BBC Revue Orchestra...
as "Rife Hobertson", and also by Graeme Garden
Graeme Garden
David Graeme Garden OBE is a Scottish author, actor, comedian, artist and television presenter, who first became known as a member of The Goodies.-Early life and beginnings in comedy:...
(a fellow Scot) on I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, who began every item with an alleged Robertson catchphrase "I'm standing here...". For Tonight Robertson travelled widely providing serious stories as well as finding some remarkable eccentrics; he was often described as "our roving reporter".
When Tonight was replaced by 24 Hours
24 Hours
24 Hours and 24 Heures is a chain of free daily newspapers published in Canada by Sun Media, a subsidiary of Quebecor Media...
, Robertson continued in his same investigative manner. He presented a series for BBC television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
, Brush Off the Dust, in which he visited several British museums, commenting on their collections, and in 1975 presented a series, Robbie, which ran for three seasons until 1977.
Despite being a heavy smoker, he remained in good health and whilst in his late 60s he took part in two exhausting televised expeditions, across the Scottish Highlands on horseback and paddling down the Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
in a canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
.
He married Elizabeth (Betty) Smith in 1928 and the couple had two daughters, Elizabeth, a singer and conductor, and Grace
Grace Robertson
Grace Robertson, OBE, is a Scottish photographer who was born in Manchester, England in 1930.After leaving school she looked after her mother who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. Robertson's father gave her a second-hand camera in 1949 and the following year she had a photo story about her...
, a well known photographer. Betty died in 1973 but Robertson married Vera Ford in 1978. In 1986 he experienced a heart attack shortly after appearing as a guest on This is Your Life
This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64...
for Cliff Michelmore
Cliff Michelmore
Arthur Clifford "Cliff" Michelmore CBE is a British television presenter and producer. He is best known for the BBC television programme Tonight, which he presented from 1957 to 1965....
. He died in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
in 1987.
