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730:, Day posed the question: "Why should the public on this issue believe you, a transient, here today and, if I may say so, gone tomorrow politician rather than a senior officer of many years' experience?" Nott, who had announced he was to retire at the next general election, removed his own microphone and walked off the set. Nott's autobiography in 2003 was called
937:
In the 1980s, Day had a coronary bypass, and he suffered from breathing problems that were often evident when he was on the air. He had always fought against a tendency to put on weight. As an undergraduate, he weighed 17 st 0 lb (108 kg; 238 lb), and claimed that, in the course
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recalled that while Day was professional when in the office, he was disrespectful towards female newsreaders: "Socially he was a menace. There was no subtlety in his manner: at office parties he would attack head on. 'Do the men you interview fancy you? Do they stare at your legs? Do they stare at
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called: "the most vigorous cross-examination a prime minister has been subjected to in public". The interview turned Day into a television personality and was probably the first time that
British television became a serious part of the political process. He was on the staff of ITN for four years,
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stated that he was "the most outstanding television journalist of his generation. He transformed the television interview, changed the relationship between politicians and television, and strove to assert balance and rationality into the medium's treatment of current affairs".
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For 25 years he campaigned tirelessly, and eventually successfully, for the televising of
Parliament – not in the interests of television, but of Parliament itself. He claimed that he was the first to present the detailed arguments in favour, in a
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in around 1998. The programme featured interviews and discussions about books, broadly around a political theme. On occasions, it took the form of a one-on-one interview, while on other occasions it consisted of a panel discussion.
702:
He became known in
British broadcasting as "the Grand Inquisitor" for his abrasive interviewing of politicians, a style out of keeping with the British media's habitual deference to authority in the early days of his career.
681:(1970–76). This was a national phone-in programme that enabled ordinary people, for the first time, to put questions directly to the prime minister and other politicians (it later spawned
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who would always give answers somewhat unrelated to the question. The breathing difficulties which affected him later in life were represented: "My name is Robin (deep breath) Day."
449:, with which he served from 1943. He was deployed to East Africa and saw little action. He was discharged from the British Army in 1947 with the rank of Lieutenant, and went up to
602:. The ITA had proposed to cut ITN's broadcasting hours and finances. His direct, non-deferential approach was then entirely new. Day was the first British journalist to interview
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934:; the couple had two sons. The marriage was dissolved in 1986. His elder son suffered multiple skull fractures in a childhood fall, and never fully recovered.
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664:(1979–89). His incisive and sometimes – by the standards of the day – abrasive interviewing style, together with his heavy-rimmed spectacles and trademark
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for a while. During the 1992 general election campaign, he returned to the BBC to host round table discussions with senior politicians on
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He was a regular fixture on all BBC general election night programmes from the 1960s until 1987. On television, he presented
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itself, Day resumed his role as interviewer, this time on ITN's general election night coverage, broadcast on ITV.
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846:, acting as a TV presenter, says, "Sadly, we've come to the end of today's 'Friendly Discussion with Robin Day'".
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384:(24 October 1923 – 6 August 2000) was an English political journalist and television and radio broadcaster.
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918:. The grave's memorial stone bears the words: "In loving memory of Sir Robin Day – The Grand Inquisitor".
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your breasts? Do you sleep with many of them?' ... Whenever he loomed in sight, I made myself scarce".
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and he also conducted long-form interviews with all three main party leaders for ITV as part of the
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turns to the camera and states: "Robin Day's got a hedgehog called Frank". In another sketch,
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Day spent almost his entire working life in journalism. He rose to prominence on the new
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administrative manager, and his wife
Florence. He received his early formal education at
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Day died from heart complications, aged 76, on the evening of 6 August 2000 at the
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of his life, he had succeeded in losing more weight than any other person.
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often referred to Day – for example in the 'Eddie Baby' sketch, in which
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to read law. Whilst at Oxford
University he was elected president of the
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514: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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He was also frequently lampooned by the satirical TV programme
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During the mid-1990s he regularly contributed to the lunchtime
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Here Today Gone
Tomorrow: Recollections of an Errant Politician
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debating society, and also took part in a debating tour of the
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1129:"Day, Sir Robin (1923–2000), radio and television broadcaster"
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where he presented the weekly political discussion programme
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19:
This article is about the broadcaster. For the designer, see
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In 1965, Day married
Katherine Ainslie, an Australian law
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1247:(London: Hansard Society for Parliamentary Government)
834:". Day appeared as himself on an installment of the
56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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820:said he was able to return his "Robin Day tie" to
643:but was not elected. After a brief period at the
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1520:People educated at The Crypt School, Gloucester
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594:, Day first came to notice by interviewing Sir
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1138:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
902:A funeral service was held at the chapel of
1505:Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates
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1515:People educated at Brentwood School, Essex
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1233:(Supplement). 31 December 1980. p. 1.
1056:(Supplement). 30 December 1980. p. 1.
824:. He was also spoofed (as "Robin Yad") on
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1076:(Supplement). 3 March 1981. p. 3087.
574:Learn how and when to remove this message
476:in 1952, but practised law only briefly.
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
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879:Day's two autobiographies were entitled
741:, he moved to the new satellite service
418:from 1934 to 1938, briefly attended the
1317:The Centre of the Bed: An Autobiography
1135:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
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1475:British Army personnel of World War II
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1287:"Mortlake Crematorium marks 75 years"
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1480:British reporters and correspondents
962:Day by Day: A Dose of My Own Hemlock
675:, where he proved an innovator with
512:adding citations to reliable sources
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54:adding citations to reliable sources
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1510:People educated at Bembridge School
908:Church of St Candida and Holy Cross
193:Church of St Candida and Holy Cross
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1245:The Case for Televising Parliament
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699:for his services to broadcasting.
671:In the early 1970s, Day worked on
441:he received a commission into the
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1344:National Portrait Gallery, London
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866:which aired in the early days of
598:, then chairman of the regulator
1465:Alumni of St Edmund Hall, Oxford
1455:20th-century British journalists
968:The Media and Political Violence
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796:was being broadcast by the BBC.
600:Independent Television Authority
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1495:ITN newsreaders and journalists
1470:BBC newsreaders and journalists
1460:20th-century English memoirists
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1098:Taverne, Dick (8 August 2000).
992:(1999) (collection of speeches)
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734:in reference to the incident.
499:needs additional citations for
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41:needs additional citations for
1525:Presidents of the Oxford Union
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986:(1993) (interview transcripts)
974:(1983; Day wrote the foreword)
717:Secretary of State for Defence
590:(ITN) from 1955. According to
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1490:English television presenters
1292:Richmond and Twickenham Times
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956:Television: A Personal Report
862:His last regular TV work was
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1319:, 2003, Sceptre, pp. 234-5,
1162:UK public library membership
809:Monty Python's Flying Circus
7:
1285:Dyduch, Amy (8 June 2014).
724:cuts in defence expenditure
588:Independent Television News
10:
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838:show, in which he berates
706:In October 1982, during a
691:from 1979 to 1987. In the
631:resigning to stand at the
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1100:"Obituary: Sir Robin Day"
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1530:Royal Artillery officers
1354:Sir Robin Day: 1923–2000
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617:In 1958, he interviewed
459:United States of America
1485:English autobiographers
1179:21 October 2008 at the
649:, he moved to the BBC.
408:Hampstead Garden Suburb
214:Brentwood School, Essex
1340:Portraits of Robin Day
1144:10.1093/ref:odnb/74507
1126:Heffer, Simon (2004).
980:(1989) (autobiography)
964:(1975) (autobiography)
912:Whitchurch Canonicorum
767:. On the night of the
463:English-Speaking Union
451:St Edmund Hall, Oxford
237:St Edmund Hall, Oxford
197:Whitchurch Canonicorum
1222:United Kingdom list:
1028:Saturday Night Grease
1009:" in season 2 of the
864:Robin Day's Book Talk
832:Saturday Night Grease
769:1992 general election
693:1981 New Year Honours
685:). He also presented
633:1959 general election
338:Years of service
1258:"Sir Robin Day dies"
1001:Day is portrayed by
984:... But with Respect
978:The Grand Inquisitor
904:Mortlake Crematorium
836:Morecambe & Wise
778:political programme
508:improve this article
271: 1965;
247:Broadcast journalism
50:improve this article
21:Robin Day (designer)
1202:The Daily Telegraph
1022:He was parodied in
990:Speaking for Myself
972:Richard Clutterbuck
897:Wellington Hospital
842:in character. Then
712:interview with the
480:Journalistic career
16:British broadcaster
1386:Main presenter of
1243:Robin Day, (1963)
1230:The London Gazette
1073:The London Gazette
1053:The London Gazette
997:In popular culture
757:BBC Breakfast News
387:Day's obituary in
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1424:Succeeded by
1397:Succeeded by
1160:(Subscription or
1153:978-0-19-861412-8
914:in the county of
857:Margaret Thatcher
761:Thames Television
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468:He was called to
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1500:Knights Bachelor
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688:The World at One
622:Harold Macmillan
608:President Nasser
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1266:. 7 August 2000
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1198:"Sir Robin Day"
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564:December 2022
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497:This section
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474:Middle Temple
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827:The Goodies'
825:
807:
806:
798:
793:
785:
779:
776:Channel Four
773:
746:
738:
736:
731:
714:Conservative
707:
705:
701:
686:
682:
676:
670:
659:
658:and chaired
653:
651:
644:
625:
616:
592:Dick Taverne
585:
570:
561:
551:
544:
537:
530:
518:
506:Please help
501:verification
498:
467:
455:Oxford Union
443:British Army
439:World War II
436:
426:, and later
420:Crypt School
405:
395:Dick Taverne
390:The Guardian
388:
386:
381:
380:
366:Battles/wars
332:British Army
178:(2000-08-06)
127:
112:
106:October 2015
103:
93:
86:
79:
72:
60:
48:Please help
43:verification
40:
1450:2000 deaths
1445:1923 births
1225:"No. 48467"
1111:1 September
1068:"No. 48542"
1048:"No. 48467"
1024:The Goodies
1007:Marionettes
883:(1975) and
868:BBC News 24
814:John Cleese
722:, pursuing
612:Suez Crisis
523:"Robin Day"
65:"Robin Day"
1439:Categories
1421:1979–1989
1394:1979–1987
1208:6 February
1164:required.)
1034:References
1030:in 1980.
881:Day by Day
840:Ernie Wise
763:programme
728:Royal Navy
610:after the
534:newspapers
424:Gloucester
402:Early life
350:Lieutenant
300:Allegiance
160:1923-10-24
76:newspapers
1356:from the
1016:The Crown
830:episode "
818:Eric Idle
765:This Week
720:John Nott
709:Newsnight
695:, he was
673:BBC Radio
341:1943–1947
207:Education
139:Robin Day
1363:Tributes
1298:22 April
1263:BBC News
1177:Archived
1026:episode
887:(1989).
753:Sky News
697:knighted
655:Panorama
641:Hereford
318:Service/
283:Children
1342:at the
1270:21 July
1013:series
1011:Netflix
822:Harrods
790:Central
666:bow tie
548:scholar
470:the Bar
437:During
430:on the
277:
265:
261:
90:scholar
1323:
1158:
1150:
958:(1961)
916:Dorset
550:
543:
536:
529:
521:
329:
320:branch
309:
253:Spouse
201:Dorset
92:
85:
78:
71:
63:
970:, by
910:, at
891:Death
635:as a
604:Egypt
555:JSTOR
541:books
267:(
263:
97:JSTOR
83:books
1321:ISBN
1300:2023
1272:2018
1210:2018
1148:ISBN
1113:2008
788:for
527:news
356:Unit
346:Rank
273:div.
173:Died
154:Born
69:news
1358:BBC
1140:doi
930:at
928:don
743:BSB
606:'s
510:by
472:at
445:'s
412:GPO
393:by
135:Sir
52:by
1441::
1315:,
1289:.
1260:.
1227:.
1200:.
1187:^
1146:.
1132:.
1102:.
1082:^
1070:.
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614:.
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434:.
422:,
269:m.
199:,
195:,
1302:.
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577:)
571:(
566:)
562:(
552:·
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504:.
286:2
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94:·
87:·
80:·
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46:.
23:.
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