Day, Sir Robin

▪ 2001

      British broadcast journalist (b. Oct. 24, 1923, London, Eng.—d. Aug. 7, 2000, London), gained the label “grand inquisitor” for his technique in political interviews, in which he asked pointed questions and probed relentlessly for nonevasive answers, in contrast to the then-traditional gentle, deferential manner of asking only expected questions. Especially on the two BBC programs most associated with him—Panorama (1959–72) and Question Time (1979–89)—wearing his trademark polka-dot bow tie, pin-striped suit, and oversize horn-rimmed glasses, he tenaciously but courteously took charge of his interviews and knowledgeably quizzed political leaders in such a way that, while his subjects were often uncomfortable, his audience was enlightened and delighted. Following service in the Royal Artillery (1943–47), Day read law (1947–51) at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, where in 1950 he served as president of the Oxford Union. He was called to the bar in 1952 but the next year went into journalism, traveling to the U.S. for the British Information Services. Following his return to London, Day worked as a freelance broadcaster and as a BBC radio producer before joining (1955) Independent Television News. He left ITN in 1959 to run for a seat in Parliament, which he did not win, and then rejoined the BBC. In 1979 Day also began presenting the BBC radio program The World at One, with which he remained until 1987. He ended his active career in 1989 but appeared on the BBC's Breakfast News during the 1992 and 1997 election campaigns. Among Day's books were the autobiographical Day by Day: A Dose of My Own Hemlock (1975) and Grand Inquisitor (1989), the latter of which became a best-seller. He was knighted in 1981.

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