Sir Robin Day, a notable British presenter and political broadcaster, was renowned for his straightforward and blunt interviewing style. His ability to hold major political figures accountable to the general public made him a respected figure throughout Britain. With his distinctive heavy-rimmed glasses and trademark spotted tie or bow tie, Day became an iconic presence on television. Starting his career as a radio presenter, he later transitioned to television and played a significant role in making it a viable source for current political affairs. In recognition of his contributions to public broadcasting, Day was knighted in the early eighties. Not only a presenter, he was also a writer, penning two autobiographies on his life as a broadcaster. Despite his own unsuccessful attempt at politics in the 1959 General Elections, Day’s impact on the field remains undeniable.
Quick Facts
- British Celebrities Born In October
- Also Known As: Sir Robin Day
- Died At Age: 76
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Katherine Ainslie
- Journalists
- TV Presenters
- Political ideology: Liberal
- Died on: August 6, 2000
- Place of death: London, England
- City: London, England
- Notable Alumni: St Edmund Hall, Oxford
- Cause of Death: Heart Problems
- Education: St Edmund Hall, Oxford
Childhood & Early Life
Robin Day was born on 24 October 1923, in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London in a middle-class family. His father was a telephone engineer, who later became a telephone manager. From 1934-38, Day attended the Brentwood School from which he was shifted to Crypt School, Gloucester, for a short period of time and ultimately enrolled at Bembridge School, Isle of Wight. He served in the British army from 1943-47 as a captain and was stationed in East Africa, during the Second World War. Once the war was over, he enrolled himself at the St Edmund Hall, Oxford.
Career
Day started working with Independent Television News (ITN) from early ‘50s and by the mid-‘50s he became very famous as he was the first British journalist who interviewed Egypt’s President Nasser after the Suez Crisis. In 1958, Day became famous for his coarse inquisition when he interviewed Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. It was considered to be a bold interview and press viewed it as “the most vigorous cross-examination a Prime Minister has been subjected to in public”. In early ‘70s, Day became presenter on BBC Radio show, ‘It’s Your Line’, in which general public asked questions from the Prime Minister. From 1977-until the late ‘80s, Day was involved in presenting ‘Panorama’, a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme and chaired ‘Question Time’. In addition to this, he was also the radio presenter of ‘The World at one’. After getting knighted for his services to the broadcasting, Day gained fame again when he offended the Conservative Secretary of State for Defence John Nott, who walked out on him because of his abrasive questioning, during the interview. He was a regular on BBC Election night programmes for his unique approach to politics and straightforward way of approaching the politicians. After he left ‘Question Time’, he started presenting the weekly political discussion programme ‘Now Sir Robin’. ‘Now Sir Robin’ was telecast on new satellite service BSB and even after BSB merged with Sky Television, Day kept on presenting the programme. During 1992 Elections, he presented a political show on ITN’s Election Night coverage, which was broadcast on ITV. Throughout the mid-‘90s, Day could be seen contributing to the lunchtime Channel Four political programme, ‘Around the House’ and ‘Central Lobby’ for Central TV. Other than being a notable broadcaster in the British Media, Day was also a writer—he wrote, ‘Day by Day (1975)’ and ‘Grand Inquisitor (1989)’. He also stood as a Labor Party Candidate in 1959 General Elections but lost.
Major Works
Day became famous particularly as a presenter for politically charged radio shows, in which he instilled new life and direction with his harsh, probing questioning techniques. These shows were: ‘Question Time’, ‘The World at One’, ‘It’s Your Line’, etc.
Awards & Achievements
For his presenting skills, straightforward approach to political issues and the ability to make a politician answerable to public questioning and curiosity by probing them meticulously, Day was knighted in 1981.
Personal Life & Legacy
Day married Katherine Ainslie, an Australian law don at Oxford, in 1965. The couple had two sons together but they got divorced in 1986. He died on 6th August 2000 and his cremation ceremony took place in Mortlake Crematorium, London, while his ashes are interred near the south door of Whitchurch Canonicorum parish church in Dorset.
Trivia
In the ‘80s, Day had to go through a coronary bypass and he suffered from apparent breathing difficulties all through his life after that. He also dealt with weight problems all through his adult life. He used to weigh 108kgs when he was an undergraduate but eventually kept losing more and more weight. His grave reads, “In loving memory of Sir Robin Day the Grand Inquisitor”. Day once appeared as himself in ‘Morecambe & Wise’ show.