Alistair Cooke retires at 95

BBC News Online ^ | March 3 2004

[Winniesboy]

Veteran Radio 4 broadcaster Alistair Cooke is retiring after 58 years at the helm of his show Letter From America. The 95-year-old joined the BBC in 1934 as a film critic before starting up US current affairs and historical programme Letter From America in 1946.

The show is the world's longest-running speech radio programme.

Cooke, who was absent from the show last week due to illness, will not record any new shows but Radio 4 will air archive shows for several weeks.

The BBC said Cooke had decided to sign off following advice from doctors Cooke said: "I can no longer continue my Letter From America.

"Throughout 58 years I have had much enjoyment in doing these talks and hope that some of it has passed over to the listeners, to all of whom I now say thank you for your loyalty and goodbye."

Since Letter From America began, Cooke has presented 2,869 shows, making up more than 717 hours of broadcasting time. This does not include other radio shows he has fronted.

The popular programme is listened to by people around the world via the BBC's World Service across Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East. It is also available online.

Cooke has also taken part in a wide range of television programmes but is perhaps best known for the BBC's Alistair Cooke's America, which was aired around the world.

His ground-breaking cultural television show Omnibus changed the face of American television in the 1950s.

Achievements

Tapes of the programme were placed in every public library in the US and a stream of successful books culminating in the title America, which sold two million copies.

Mark Byford, acting BBC director general and former World Service director, thanked Cooke for his "unparalleled contribution".

He said: "Alistair Cooke has been one of the greatest broadcasters ever, full of insight and wisdom.

"He has brought enormous pleasure to millions of listeners, both in the United Kingdom and around the world."

Jenny Abramsky, director of BBC radio and music, said Cooke's letters were a "unique legacy" which had "stimulated and entertained millions".

"I can still remember listening at university to his letter when Robert Kennedy was shot.

"His description of the small pantry passageway in San Francisco brought home the horror of Kennedy's death in a personal human way that marked all his letters.

"We are very sorry he has decided to retire but are grateful for all the years he has devoted to the BBC."

In 1973, Cooke was awarded an honorary knighthood and in 1974 he addressed the United States Congress on its 200th anniversary.

He also received an award from Bafta for his contribution to Anglo American relations and a Sony Radio Award for his services to broadcasting.

Cooke was born in Salford, England in 1908. He now lives with his second wife Jane White in New York.

Story from BBC NEWS: Published: 2004/03/02 13:56:34 GMT

© BBC MMIV

[RightWhale]

Used to watch Masterpiece in the 50s. He was old then, too. Of course, to an 11-year old, even an 18-year old is old.

[sharpink]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/859418/posts

Alister Cook's Peace in our Time broadcast. This was a amazing piece.

[Celtic Conservative]

I occasionally hear his "letters from America" on the BBC at work.(you'd be amazed how little there is to listen to at 2 A.M.). From the shows that I have heard I must say I am not impressed . Now I know the man is older than methuselah, but the majority of excerpts are rambling and generally incoherent. Mr. Cooke presents various thoughts and concepts , but the linkage of those thoughts is often tenuous. Or, in other words, you often get done listening to the show and say to yorself "that's it?, what the heck was the whole thing about?"

CC

[HAL9000]

He was old then, too.

The BBC should replace him with some fresh, young talent - like Paul Harvey.

[RightWhale]

Delivery, it's all in the delivery. Content is merely background, scenery.

[billorites]

Lord Nelson engaged the French fleet at Trafalgar today...

[Mason]

Mr. Cooke presents various thoughts and concepts , but the linkage of those thoughts is often tenuous. Or, in other words, you often get done listening to the show and say to yorself "that's it?, what the heck was the whole thing about?"

I don't know. I often arise at 3 a.m. Monday morning just to hear the guy. I usually enjoyed them.

[Winniesboy]

Actually, I think this photo was of Cooke's Agincourt broadcast. By Trafalgar, he'd lost the Brylcreem.

[Rudder]

I watched him in the fifties, too, on Masterpiece Theatre and Omnibus. Then, in the late seventies he would occasionally stop in at our neighborhood bar in NorthSea (near Sag Harbor) N.Y. He was very interesting and charming to talk to in this informal setting, but if you closed your eyes the old bar began to sound like Omnibus reruns.

[luvbach1]

I believe Cooke is an American citizen of long standing, somehow overlooked in the article.

[HardStarboard]

Alistair Cooke was, and is, the sole remaining example of the days when "BBC" was synonymous with excellence and truthfulness in reporting.

The BBC is currently simply a vile mouthpiece for rampant European socialism and anti-US bias.

[Rummyfan]

Alistair Cooke may be over the hill now but if you get ahev some time to read it THE AMERICANS is a very good book by him. As a foreigner who became an American I thought he had a very good hnadle on the country.

[luvbach1]

The BBC is currently simply a vile mouthpiece for rampant European socialism and anti-US [and anti-Israel] bias.

Yes, and Cooke left it long before it morphed into the above.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I listened to him every week for many years. I always thought he was charming, witty, and reasonable. The BBC will be the worse for his retiring.

[js1138]

His comments on the "I Claudius" production were fantastic. I have the DVD set of this production, but it ain't the same without him.

[RoyDavison]

Like proven masterpieces in the field of art and music, the work of Alistair Cooke is no longer up for evaluation. The viewer or listener is the one who is on trial. His reaction simply reveals his own level of insight and appreciation.

[af_vet_rr]

They could replace him with the Car Talk guys from NPR. Even if you don't care about cars or working on them, they are entertaining and provide a small window on American culture.