Peter White (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Peter White MBE
(born 1947, Winchester
) is a British broadcast journalist
and DJ.
, which was then known as the Worcester College for the Blind. He was a regular presenter on BBC Radio Solent
from the station's launch in 1971 until November 2006, when he was one of several long-serving and well-respected presenters who were sacked in an attempt to improve listener figures.
He currently presents (with others) You and Yours
and (since 1974) In Touch (both Radio 4), a programme for blind and partially sighted people, and regularly contributes to other science, news or educational programmes to talk about disabilities. He was the presenter of Channel 4
's Same Difference (1987–1989) and Central Television's Link (1989–1991). He was made the BBC's Disability Affairs Correspondent in 1995. He was part of the reporting team for BBC News at the 2008 Beijing games. A column by White for The Guardian 'G2' magazine which appeared on 8 September 2006http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/sep/08/transport.comment provoked many positive responses.
On March 13, 2009 White participated in Radio 4's Stand Up With The Stars, a competition for Red Nose Day 2009
where well-known, serious presenters from Radio 4 attempted to make and deliver a stand-up comedy
routine, mentor
ed by other well-known comedy presenters on Radio 4. He went on to win after a vote from Radio 4 listeners. Much of his routine focused on his blindness and others' perceptions of blind people.
He is currently in training to complete a 100km walk across the Kaisut Desert in North Kenya
for Comic Relief
to raise awareness of individuals in Africa losing their sight to diseases like glaucoma.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1947, Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
) is a British broadcast journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and DJ.
Career
Blind since birth (as was his older brother), he attended New College WorcesterNew College Worcester
New College Worcester is a residential secondary school for students, aged 11–19, who are blind or partially sighted. It caters for around 80 students including those who have other special needs or disabilities along with their visual impairment. It is located in the city of Worcester, England...
, which was then known as the Worcester College for the Blind. He was a regular presenter on BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent is the BBC Local Radio service for the Isle of Wight and the English counties of Hampshire and Dorset. Its studios are located in Southampton, in the same purpose-built office block in Havelock Road as the BBC South Today news studios, and there are district offices in Portsmouth,...
from the station's launch in 1971 until November 2006, when he was one of several long-serving and well-respected presenters who were sacked in an attempt to improve listener figures.
He currently presents (with others) 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 (since 1974) In Touch (both Radio 4), a programme for blind and partially sighted people, and regularly contributes to other science, news or educational programmes to talk about disabilities. He was the presenter of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Same Difference (1987–1989) and Central Television's Link (1989–1991). He was made the BBC's Disability Affairs Correspondent in 1995. He was part of the reporting team for BBC News at the 2008 Beijing games. A column by White for The Guardian 'G2' magazine which appeared on 8 September 2006http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/sep/08/transport.comment provoked many positive responses.
On March 13, 2009 White participated in Radio 4's Stand Up With The Stars, a competition for Red Nose Day 2009
Red Nose Day 2009
Red Nose Day 2009, was a fund raising event organised by Comic Relief, broadcast live on BBC One and BBC Two from the evening of 13 March 2009 to early the following morning. It was part of the "Do Something Funny For Money" campaign...
where well-known, serious presenters from Radio 4 attempted to make and deliver a stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
routine, mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
ed by other well-known comedy presenters on Radio 4. He went on to win after a vote from Radio 4 listeners. Much of his routine focused on his blindness and others' perceptions of blind people.
He is currently in training to complete a 100km walk across the Kaisut Desert in North Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
for Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
to raise awareness of individuals in Africa losing their sight to diseases like glaucoma.
Awards and achievements
- 1988 Awarded Member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE). - 1999 Published an autobiography, See It My Way.
- 2001 Awarded Sony speech Broadcaster of the Year 2001
- 2002 Awarded Viv Bradford Rose Bowl by Warwickshire Association for the BlindWarwickshire Association for the BlindWarwickshire Association for the Blind is a registered charity providing rehabilitation services for children and adults with sight impairments to support them to live independent lives. Services are provided by WAB's rehabilitation team based in their offices at Warwick...
External links
- Peter White biography at bbc.co.ukBbc.co.ukBBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...