Montague Modlyn
Encyclopedia
Montague Modlyn (born 23 May 1921 in Lambeth
– 6 May 1994), was a British
journalist
, best known as a radio/TV presenter. Modlyn worked on BBC
radio and TV often as a 'roving reporter'. (There may be a query as to the date of his death. As an internet article of his obituary from The Independent, gives the date of his death as 14th May 1994 (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-monty-modlyn-1435927.html))
On LBC radio he presented Monty Modlyn at Large. He also presented a series on LBC called "Monty's Pub" where he visited a different public house
every week. As well as pubs, Modlyn had a fondness for smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel
s, which he would consume on air each week during his Sunday evening phone-in show on LBC.
Modlyn was the son of a Jewish tailor and left school at 14. He worked as a proof reader's assistant for the Daily Mail
and then wrote for the South London Press
and the Evening Standard
. His first broadcast was Down Lambeth Way, a talks programme for Forces radio. He was an outside broadcaster for the Jack de Manio
early morning radio programme. In the 1960s he did pilot shows for Tyne Tees TV, including a Christmas Special.
He cultivated an East End
working-class image, together with an apparent lack of respect for the rich and famous. His classic interview in this vein was with Uganda
n dictator Idi Amin Dada, whom he ingenuously asked how many people he had murdered. Amin responded "You very cheeky man!"
Modlyn was delighted by that, and adopted a theme song:
Modlyn was a vocal supporter of the Conservative Party and prime minister Margaret Thatcher
. He was pictured with Thatcher at the Tory Youth Rally at the Wembley Conference Centre
in London in June 1983.
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
– 6 May 1994), was a British
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...
journalist
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, best known as a radio/TV presenter. Modlyn worked on 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...
radio and TV often as a 'roving reporter'. (There may be a query as to the date of his death. As an internet article of his obituary from The Independent, gives the date of his death as 14th May 1994 (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-monty-modlyn-1435927.html))
On LBC radio he presented Monty Modlyn at Large. He also presented a series on LBC called "Monty's Pub" where he visited a different public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
every week. As well as pubs, Modlyn had a fondness for smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel
Bagel
A bagel is a bread product, traditionally shaped by hand into the form of a ring from yeasted wheat dough, roughly hand-sized, which is first boiled for a short time in water and then baked. The result is a dense, chewy, doughy interior with a browned and sometimes crisp exterior...
s, which he would consume on air each week during his Sunday evening phone-in show on LBC.
Modlyn was the son of a Jewish tailor and left school at 14. He worked as a proof reader's assistant for the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
and then wrote for the South London Press
South London Press
The South London Press is a bi-weekly tabloid newspaper based in Streatham, South London, covering local news within the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Wandsworth....
and the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
. His first broadcast was Down Lambeth Way, a talks programme for Forces radio. He was an outside broadcaster for the Jack de Manio
Jack de Manio
Jack de Manio MC and Bar was a British journalist, best known as a radio presenter....
early morning radio programme. In the 1960s he did pilot shows for Tyne Tees TV, including a Christmas Special.
He cultivated an East End
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
working-class image, together with an apparent lack of respect for the rich and famous. His classic interview in this vein was with Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n dictator Idi Amin Dada, whom he ingenuously asked how many people he had murdered. Amin responded "You very cheeky man!"
Modlyn was delighted by that, and adopted a theme song:
Oh pardon my cheek, and the way that I speak, but no matter where I go
To common or gentry, I talk element'ry
In the only way I know.
Modlyn was a vocal supporter of the Conservative Party and prime minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. He was pictured with Thatcher at the Tory Youth Rally at the Wembley Conference Centre
Wembley Conference Centre
Wembley Conference Centre was a conference centre near Wembley Stadium, Wembley, in London, England.-History:Opened in 1977, it was the first purpose built Conference Centre in the UK. Events included conferences, corporate hospitality, annual general meetings, banquets and sports events including...
in London in June 1983.