Dando, Jill Wendy

▪ 2000

      British television broadcaster (b. Nov. 9, 1961, Weston-super-Mare, Eng.—d. April 26, 1999, London, Eng.), served as an anchor of newscasts as well as host of the Crimewatch UK and Holiday series and had just begun presenting The Antiques Inspectors show. Her talent and girl-next-door likability made her one of the BBC's most popular and respected personalities, and her murder by gunshot at point-blank range in front of her house shocked the country and provoked a tremendous outpouring of public grief. Dando began (1980) her journalism career as a reporter for her local newspaper, the Weston and Somerset Mercury, where her father and brother also were employed. In 1985 she moved to BBC Radio Devon and became the breakfast program's presenter, and she soon went on to regional television. In 1988 Dando was tapped to become a presenter on BBC TV's breakfast news program, and before long she was a nationwide household name. When she became (1993) a presenter on Holiday, she brought new life to that show, coupling entertainment with insightful reporting on the numerous locations around the world to which she traveled. She also added the Six O'Clock News in 1994 and the monthly Crimewatch UK in 1995. The latter program had led to over 600 arrests in the 14 years of its existence, and there was speculation that Dando's murder might have had a connection with one of the crimes she covered.

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