Redhead, Brian

▪ 1995

      British journalist and broadcaster (b. Dec. 28, 1929, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England—d. Jan. 23, 1994, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England), as chief presenter of BBC radio's popular "Today" program from 1975, was for millions of devoted listeners "the voice of the morning." Redhead studied history at Downing College, Cambridge, before joining the editorial staff of the Manchester Guardian in 1954. Within five years he was features editor, and after the newspaper (renamed The Guardian) relocated to London, he was made the northern editor. In 1969 he was promoted to editor of The Guardian's sister paper, the Manchester Evening News. Over the years he simultaneously pursued a career in broadcasting, with a series of regional radio and television programs. When his application for editor of The Guardian was rejected, he left print journalism to take the job on "Today." Redhead, a lively and relentless interviewer, often irritated his political guests, but his incisive questions and animated personality made his early-morning broadcast required listening in the halls of government. In later years he also produced radio documentaries on religion.

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