English former journalist and newscaster
Alastair Stewart
|
---|
Stewart in 2007
|
Born
| Alastair James Stewart
(
1952-06-22
)
22 June 1952
(age 71)
|
---|
Alma mater
| University of Bristol
|
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Occupation(s)
| Journalist, presenter
|
---|
Years active
| 1976?2023
|
---|
Notable credit(s)
| ITN
(1980?1992, 2003?2020)
LNN
(1993?2004)
GB News
(2021?2023)
|
---|
Spouse
| Sally Ann Jung (m. 1978)
|
---|
Children
| 4
|
---|
Alastair James Stewart
OBE
(born 22 June 1952) is an English former journalist and newscaster.
Stewart joined
Southern Television
in 1976, then joined
ITN
in 1980, where he served three years with
Channel 4 News
and went on to become a main newsreader with
ITV News
. He remained in this role for more than 35 years, making him the longest-serving male newsreader on British television, having worked in both local and national news for 44 years. As a presenter for ITV News, he won the
Royal Television Society
's News Presenter of the Year award in 2004 and 2005.
In January 2020, he stepped down as an ITV News presenter and joined
GB News
on its introduction in 2021. In March 2023, he announced his retirement as a regular broadcaster.
[1]
Early life
[
edit
]
Stewart was born in
Emsworth
,
Hampshire
[2]
to a Scottish father from
Invergarry
and an English mother. His father served as an officer in the
Royal Air Force
.
[3]
[4]
Stewart was educated in Scotland, at the state school
Madras College
in
St Andrews
,
Fife
, then in England at the independent school
Salesian College
in
Farnborough, Hampshire
and at
St. Augustine's Abbey
School in
Ramsgate
,
Kent
.
[
citation needed
]
He then read Economics and Politics at the
University of Bristol
,
[5]
and worked for the
National Union of Students
from 1974 to 1976.
[5]
Career
[
edit
]
1970s
[
edit
]
Stewart's career in television started in 1976 with ITV's south of England company
Southern Television
in
Southampton
.
[6]
He was a reporter, industrial correspondent, presenter and documentary maker. He recorded one of the last interviews with
Lord Mountbatten
before Mountbatten was
assassinated
by the
IRA
in 1979,
[7]
and spent six weeks in
Ford Open Prison
to make a half-hour documentary.
[5]
1980s
[
edit
]
He joined ITN in 1980 as industrial correspondent,
[5]
soon joining its roster of additional newsreaders. From 1983
[6]
to 1986, he was a presenter and reporter with ITN's
Channel 4 News
, and also presented ITN's
News at 5.45
.
Stewart provided live coverage of the
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
as the details of the tragedy unfolded.
[6]
A two-minute newsflash became an unscripted, one-hour special programme. He also anchored, with
Sandy Gall
, the award-winning coverage on ITN on the night of the bombing of the
Pan Am jet over Lockerbie
[6]
and presented the ITV network coverage of the memorial service for the victims.
He moved again in May 1989, to ITN's flagship
News at Ten
bulletin,
[6]
which he anchored live from the fall of the
Berlin Wall
, before spending a year in the United States as ITN's Washington correspondent. Four days after returning from his assignment in Washington he was sent to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to anchor ITN's coverage of the
Gulf War
. He presented
News at Ten
, live from Saudi Arabia for two months. At the end of February, Stewart became the first British television reporter to broadcast live from the liberated
Kuwait City
. He presented
News at Ten
from Kuwait for a week before returning to the UK.
1990s
[
edit
]
ITN's network coverage of the 1992
Budget
saw the ninth year of Stewart's involvement in the presentation of the annual event for ITV.
[7]
It was his fifth year anchoring the programme having replaced Sir
Alastair Burnet
, who retired from ITN in 1991.
During his time with ITN, he also provided the commentary for many of its other special programmes on the ITV network including the
State Openings of Parliament
, numerous by-elections, state visits and for the Royal Weddings of
Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer
and
The Duke of York
and
Sarah Ferguson
.
From 1993 to September 2009, he was the co-presenter of
ITV London
's regional news programme
London Tonight
.
He has also presented
Alastair Stewart's Sunday
for
BBC Radio 5
in 1994. Then in 1995, he joined
GMTV
, where he anchored
Alastair Stewart's Sunday Programme
until 2001.
Stewart also presented
Police Camera Action!
, which originally started in 1994, on ITV, showing video footage of examples of road crime from police cars. In 2003 he was dropped from this role after his second conviction for
drink driving
. He was more than three times the legal limit when his car crashed in Hampshire.
[8]
Episodes that had already been recorded for broadcast in 2002 were finally shown in January 2006.
[
citation needed
]
2000s
[
edit
]
Stewart was a presenter on the now defunct
ITV News Channel
for the
2003 Iraq War
presenting a weekday programme called
Live with Alastair Stewart
.
He was also a regular presence in ITV's national election coverage, co-anchoring network coverage of the general elections of
2005
(with
Jonathan Dimbleby
),
1997
(with Dimbleby and
Michael Brunson
),
1992
(with
Jon Snow
) and
1987
(with Alastair Burnet). He was the main anchor of
Election Night Live: America Decides
, ITV's through-the-night programme covering the
2008 US Presidential election
.
In February 2007, he became co-presenter of the
ITV Lunchtime News
, replacing
Nicholas Owen
. The bulletin was revamped in July 2009, from which point Stewart became one of two main alternate newscasters for the programme. Also in 2007, he hosted a political programme for ITV,
Moral of the Story
, which aired at various late times on Sunday nights.
In August 2009, it was announced that he would become main co-presenter of the
ITV Evening News
, relinquishing his role as presenter of
London Tonight
. This came into effect from 7 September 2009. He was also the main presenter of ITV's general election results programme in 2010.
[9]
Stewart is a fan of the band
The Rolling Stones
, winning
Celebrity Mastermind
on 29 December 2009 with the band as his specialist subject.
[10]
2010s
[
edit
]
On 15 April 2010, Stewart moderated the first ever United Kingdom political leaders' debates between the prime ministerial candidates in the
2010 general election
, featuring the Labour incumbent
Gordon Brown
, Conservative leader
David Cameron
and Liberal Democrat leader
Nick Clegg
, debating on live television. Three debates were to take place, produced by ITV, the BBC and Sky. By random lots, ITV drew the first debate, and chose Stewart to act as moderator.
Stewart received honorary doctorates from the
University of Plymouth
in September 2010,
[11]
from the
University of Winchester
in 2011,
[12]
and from the
University of Sunderland
in 2012.
[13]
On 28 December 2014, Stewart presented a one-off
ITV
documentary called
Unbelievable Moments: Caught on Camera
. The programme returned for further episodes in January 2016 and 2017.
[14]
In 2015, Stewart made his West End theatrical debut in
An Evening with Lucian Freud
by
Laura-Jane Foley
.
[15]
He played a hapless interviewer appearing on video alongside
Cressida Bonas
,
Russell Grant
and
Maureen Lipman
.
[16]
In June 2015, it was announced that, as part of a wider restructure at ITV News,
Mark Austin
would return to the
ITV Evening News
full-time, alongside
Mary Nightingale
from October 2015. Alastair Stewart continued to appear on the programme as a relief newscaster, alongside his duties on the
ITV Lunchtime News
.
[17]
Coinciding with the main presenter line-up, the programme was again being referred to as the
ITV Evening News
.
[18]
He presented ITV News coverage of the
2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
.
[19]
He also appeared on
Celebrity Mastermind
for the second time in December 2019, answering questions on
Lewis Hamilton
.
[10]
2020s
[
edit
]
In early January 2020, Stewart engaged in a dispute on
Twitter
with Martin Shapland, a black man. During the dispute, Stewart made a tweet addressed to Shapland which quoted the line "Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd ? His glassy elegance ? like an angry ape" from the Shakespeare play
Measure for Measure
.
ITN
received public complaints about this post and others.
[20]
On 29 January 2020, Stewart deleted his Twitter account and announced he would be stepping down as an ITV News presenter.
[21]
The following day, an ITN source said his departure came after "multiple 'errors of judgment' in his use of social media", not just the
Measure for Measure
quote.
[20]
Following Stewart's departure, Shapland said "I understand that Mr Stewart has acknowledged the words he used were misjudged and has expressed regret at what happened. I thank him for that... It is regrettable that he has decided to stand down and I take no pleasure in that."
[22]
Later in 2020 Stewart worked as a relief presenter for
Talkradio
. In early April 2021 it was announced that he would join
GB News
to host a weekend news and current affairs programme.
[23]
On 16 July 2021, he announced he would temporarily suspend hosting on GB News following a hip injury and returned on 28 August 2021. He covered for
Andrew Neil
from 30 August until 3 September.
[24]
On 19 March 2023, GB News aired the final edition of
Alastair Stewart & Friends
. Stewart announced his retirement a few days later.
[25]
He stated that he would continue to contribute to GB News as an occasional guest and pundit, and provided commentary on the
Coronation of King Charles III
on Saturday 6 May.
Personal life
[
edit
]
Stewart has been married to Sally Ann Jung since 1978 and has four children. His son Alex Stewart was formerly a football analyst for Tifo Football, a division of
The Athletic
.
[26]
He and his wife live on a farm in
Bramdean
,
Hampshire
.
[27]
[28]
His nephew is actor
Nick Hendrix
.
[29]
In 2003 Stewart was banned from driving for 23 months and fined £3,000; he had been arrested, charged and convicted of
drink driving
after crashing his car into a hedge and telegraph pole whilst three times over the legal alcohol limit in June 2003. He had the original 30-month ban reduced after he agreed to go on a rehabilitation course for disqualified drivers.
[30]
In September 2023, Stewart announced during an interview on GB News that he had been diagnosed with early-onset
vascular dementia
after suffering a "series of strokes" and began to feel "discombobulated" when [undertaking] simple tasks around the house.
[31]
Stewart had smoked since his teens and had smoked up to 40 cigarettes a day,
[32]
but said the diagnosis had led to him "stopping smoking, going on longer dog walks and trying to keep his brain active with puzzles."
[33]
Charity
[
edit
]
Stewart is an active supporter of a number of charities, including
Kids for Kids
which helps villages in
Darfur
,
[34]
and Patron of
Naomi House & Jacksplace
, hospices for children and young adults, near Winchester. He is also an ambassador for Action for Children and a Patron for
Brooke ? Action for working horses and donkeys
.
[35]
Stewart has appeared twice on the celebrity editions of game show
The Chase
. His first appearance was on 19 October 2013. His second appearance was a
Text Santa
special on 20 December 2013 and featured his fellow
ITV News
presenters
Romilly Weeks
,
Matt Barbet
, and
Charlene White
.
[
citation needed
]
Awards and honours
[
edit
]
Filmography
[
edit
]
- Television
- Guest appearances
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Green, Alex (22 March 2023).
"Alastair Stewart retires as regular broadcaster after five-decade career"
.
The Independent
. Retrieved
2 June
2023
.
- ^
"Findmypast.co.uk"
. Archived from
the original
on 4 February 2016
. Retrieved
17 July
2014
.
- ^
"Profile: Alastair Stewart, chairman of the leaders TV debate"
.
The Scotsman
. 15 April 2010. Archived from
the original
on 17 April 2010
. Retrieved
1 April
2011
.
- ^
a
b
Sykes, Kathy (20 February 2008).
"Alastair James Stewart OBE, Doctor of Laws"
. University of Bristol
. Retrieved
1 April
2011
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Archive: Birthdays from Birmingham Post, HighBeam Research"
.
[
dead link
]
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
"Alastair Stewart: My Life in Media"
.
The Independent
. 31 July 2006.
Archived
from the original on 22 October 2012.
- ^
a
b
Alastair Stewart, Now You're Talking speaker agency
Archived
21 April 2013 at
archive.today
- ^
"Drink-driving TV host dropped"
.
BBC News
. 1 July 2003. Archived from
the original
on 8 November 2005
. Retrieved
7 May
2006
.
- ^
Plunkett, John (19 August 2009).
"More Mark Austin on News at Ten"
.
The Guardian
. London
. Retrieved
19 July
2009
.
- ^
a
b
"When Celebrity Mastermind is on TV ? plus who is taking part"
. radiotimes.com
. Retrieved
30 January
2020
.
- ^
"Alastair Stewart to receive Honorary Doctorate from University of Plymouth"
.
University of Plymouth
. 7 September 2010. Archived from
the original
on 29 October 2013.
- ^
a
b
"?????瑥睡?⁴漠?????湯牡特??瑯牡瑥?????敲???映?祭?瑨"
. Archived from
the original
on 29 October 2013
. Retrieved
7 January
2014
.
- ^
a
b
Nicola Weatherall,
"Sunderland University to honour Eddie Izzard, Charlie Spedding and Alastair Stewart"
[
permanent dead link
]
,
The Journal
, 5 July 2012
- ^
"Unbelievable Moments - Caught on Camera Episode 1"
.
- ^
"Londoner's Diary"
.
standard.co.uk
. 11 May 2015.
- ^
Shilling, Jane (19 May 2015).
"An Evening with Lucian Freud"
.
The Daily Telegraph
.
- ^
"Tom Bradby set to become main presenter of ITV News at Ten"
. ITV News. 25 June 2015
. Retrieved
25 June
2015
.
- ^
"ITV Evening News"
. DigiGuide
. Retrieved
14 October
2015
.
- ^
"How can I follow the EU referendum result with ITV?"
.
ITV News
. Retrieved
29 January
2020
.
- ^
a
b
"Alastair Stewart's exit due to multiple 'errors of judgment'
"
.
The Guardian
. 30 January 2020
. Retrieved
30 January
2020
.
- ^
Blackall, Molly (29 January 2020).
"Alastair Stewart quits as ITV presenter over 'errors of judgment'
"
.
The Guardian
. Retrieved
29 January
2020
.
- ^
"TV hosts speak up for Stewart after ITV News exit"
.
BBC News
. 30 January 2020
. Retrieved
30 January
2020
.
- ^
Waterson, Jim (2 April 2021).
"Former ITN newsreader Alastair Stewart joins GB News channel"
.
The Guardian
. Retrieved
2 April
2021
.
- ^
Makoni, Abbianca (16 July 2021).
"Alastair Stewart can't host GB News this weekend due to broken hip"
.
www.standard.co.uk
. Retrieved
16 July
2021
.
- ^
Hallam, Katy (22 March 2023).
"Legendary TV newsreader Alistair Stewart announces retirement in sad statement"
.
Birmingham Live
. Retrieved
25 March
2023
.
- ^
"Football Illustrated with Alex Stewart of Tifo Football"
. 6 August 2020.
- ^
Swann, Yvonne (7 May 2009).
"My Perfect Weekend: Alastair Stewart"
.
The Daily Telegraph
.
ISSN
0307-1235
. Retrieved
29 January
2020
.
- ^
"TV presenter steps in as Long Barn row rumbles on"
.
Hampshire Chronicle
. 24 May 2019
. Retrieved
28 May
2023
.
- ^
Doyle, Dave (9 October 2021).
"How Midsomer Murders star Nick Hendrix shot to fame, his famous uncle, older spouse and estimated net worth"
.
Buckinghamshire Live
. Retrieved
10 March
2023
.
- ^
"Stewart banned over drink-drive crash"
.
The Guardian
. 1 July 2003
. Retrieved
21 October
2018
.
- ^
Brown, Mark (10 September 2023).
"Alastair Stewart reveals he has been diagnosed with dementia"
.
The Guardian
.
ISSN
0261-3077
. Retrieved
6 February
2024
.
- ^
Reporters, Telegraph (1 November 2023).
"Alastair Stewart reveals wife spotted first signs of dementia when he could not tell the time"
– via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^
Brown, Mark (10 September 2023).
"Alastair Stewart reveals he has been diagnosed with dementia"
– via The Guardian.
- ^
"Kids for Kids patrons list"
. Archived from
the original
on 13 September 2015
. Retrieved
8 December
2010
.
- ^
"Alastair Stewart - Brooke"
.
www.thebrooke.org
.
External links
[
edit
]
Media offices
|
Preceded by
|
Royal Television Society
2005
|
Succeeded by
|
Preceded by
|
Male host,
ITV Lunchtime News
2007?2020
|
Succeeded by
TBC
|
Preceded by
|
Male co-host,
ITV Evening News
2009?2015
|
Succeeded by
|
Preceded by
N/A
|
Deputy Newscaster,
ITV News at Ten
2009?2020
|
Succeeded by
|