John Waite (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
John Waite is a presenter on British
radio and occasionally television. He has been working at the British Broadcasting Corporation for more than thirty-three years.
. His father ran a corner shop. He went to Sandbach Grammar School for Boys
on Crewe Road in Sandbach
and Wilmslow County Grammar School for Boys in Wilmslow from the age of 15. He gained seven O levels and A levels in English, History and French. He studied English and American Literature at the University of Manchester
.
on Radio 4.
- You and Yours
, and the consumer affairs programme Face the Facts
. He has also fronted the National Trust Magazine's
audio version since its inception. However, according to the man himself, his greatest recognised achievement is presenting a wide range of documentaries including an exclusive interview with witness "Bromley", the teenage girl whose outbursts during cross-questioning at the Old Bailey
brought the Damilola Taylor murder trial to a halt. This particular broadcast led to "Bromley" being invited to 10 Downing Street
to discuss ways of better protecting vulnerable young people giving evidence in court.
He says one of his best, and at the same time worst, moments was being so keen to get his microphone close to Prince Charles he stood heavily on his toe.
John was a spokesperson whilst his cousin, Terry Waite
, was held hostage in Beirut
in the 1990s. He remembers presenting a special programme for his cousin, which Terry managed to hear - a special moment in his career.
John Waite has received dozens of awards for the programmes he has worked on, but also collected a few Radio Oscars (Sonys
) himself, including Broadcaster of the Year.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
radio and occasionally television. He has been working at the British Broadcasting Corporation for more than thirty-three years.
Early life
He was born in StaffordshireStaffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. His father ran a corner shop. He went to Sandbach Grammar School for Boys
Sandbach School
Founded in 1677, Sandbach School has been located on Crewe Road in Sandbach, Cheshire for almost 150 years.It is an all-boys school offering admission from the age of 11. In years 10 and 11 a range of GCSE's and Vocational subjects are offered. The school has its own Sixth Form and so offers...
on Crewe Road in Sandbach
Sandbach
Sandbach is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The civil parish contains four settlements; Sandbach itself, Elworth, Ettiley Heath and Wheelock....
and Wilmslow County Grammar School for Boys in Wilmslow from the age of 15. He gained seven O levels and A levels in English, History and French. He studied English and American Literature at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
.
Career
He joined the BBC as a graduate trainee in 1974. He became a news presenter for BBC Radio London. He joined Face the Facts and You and Yours in 1986. He also hosts Pick of the WeekPick of the Week
Pick of the Week is a Canadian anthology television series which aired on CBC Television from 1967 to 1969.-Premise:Selected episodes of CBC's prime time series were rebroadcast in this weekday morning time slot such as Man Alive, Newsmagazine, The Public Eye, Singalong Jubilee and This Land...
on Radio 4.
You and Yours and Face the Facts
John is most well known for presenting the popular lunchtime consumer programme on BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
- You and Yours
You and Yours
You and Yours is a British radio consumer affairs programme, broadcast on BBC Radio 4.-History:It began broadcasting in October 1970, its first presenter was Joan York. In the great rescheduling of April 1998 it was increased from a 25 minute programme to 55 minutes. In the 1980s it briefly ran...
, and the consumer affairs programme Face the Facts
Face the Facts
Face the Facts is a consumer affairs programme on BBC Radio 4, featuring investigative journalism, that has been running since the mid-1980s. Currently introduced by John Waite, cousin of the well-known humanitarian and churchman Terry Waite, it usually focuses on individuals or organisations...
. He has also fronted the National Trust Magazine's
National Trust Magazine
National Trust Magazine is the members’ publication of National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty. With a readership of 3.76 million it currently has the sixth highest magazine circulation in Britain...
audio version since its inception. However, according to the man himself, his greatest recognised achievement is presenting a wide range of documentaries including an exclusive interview with witness "Bromley", the teenage girl whose outbursts during cross-questioning at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
brought the Damilola Taylor murder trial to a halt. This particular broadcast led to "Bromley" being invited to 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
to discuss ways of better protecting vulnerable young people giving evidence in court.
He says one of his best, and at the same time worst, moments was being so keen to get his microphone close to Prince Charles he stood heavily on his toe.
John was a spokesperson whilst his cousin, Terry Waite
Terry Waite
Terry Waite CBE is an English humanitarian and author.Waite was Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie's Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs in the 1980s. As an envoy for the Church of England, he travelled to Lebanon to try to secure the release of four hostages including journalist John...
, was held hostage in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
in the 1990s. He remembers presenting a special programme for his cousin, which Terry managed to hear - a special moment in his career.
John Waite has received dozens of awards for the programmes he has worked on, but also collected a few Radio Oscars (Sonys
Sony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
) himself, including Broadcaster of the Year.