Bragg, Melvyn

trainee, BBC, 1961; producer and presenter numerous arts programs, 1963-67; writer and broadcaster, 1967-78; editor and presenter of The South Bank

1 Show, since 1978; head of arts, London Weekend Tele- vision, 1982-90; deputy chair, Border Television, 1985-90; presenter, BBC Radio's Start the Week, since 1988; controller of arts, London Weekend Television, from 1990; chair, Border Television. Carlisle, from 1990; chancellor, . since 1998; host, In Our Time and The Routes of English, BBC Ra- dio 4. D.Litt.: University of Liverpool, 1986; Univer- sity of Lancaster. 1990; Council for National Academic Awards, 1990; D.Univ.: Open University, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, 1987; LL.D., Uni- versity of St. Andrew's. 1993: D.CL., University of Northumbria, 1994. Fellow: Royal Society of Litera- ture, 1970; ; Lancashire Poly- technic, 1987; St. Catherine's College, Oxford, 1990. Member: Arts Council (chair, Arts Council Literature . r . d. Panel, 1977-80); Cumhrians for Peace (president, S,ie since 1982): Northern Arts (chair, 1983-87); National Campaign for the Arts (chair, since 1986). Recipient: Writers Guild Screenplay Award, 1966; Rhys Memo- rial Prize, 1968; Northern Arts Association Prose Award. 1970; Silver Pen Award, 1970; Broadcasting .a Guild Award, 1984: Ivor Novello Musical Award, 1985; British Academy of Film and Television Arts Dimblehy Award. 1986: W.H. Smith Writer's Award, 2000. Named Lord Bragg of Wigton, 1998.

Melvyn Bragg with Dame Edna Everage, The South Bank Television Series Sho ,v. Courtesy of the Everett Collection 1963-65 Monitor (producer) 1964-70 New Release/Retie v/Arena (editor) 1967-70 Writers' World (editor) 1964-70 Take It or Leave It (editor) turned into a two-tier system, "telly for nobs and telly 1971 In the Picture (presenter) for slobs" and that the medium was being destroyed by 1973-77 Second House (presenter) a "class and cash" system whereby satellite and cable 1976-77 Read All about It (editor and systems were able to siphon off prime material. Every presenter) newspaper reported his speech, and the Daily Tele- 1978- The South Bank Show (editor and graph devoted an editorial to the subject. Such leader- presenter) ship, all too rare in the independent sector, suggests 1983 's Cumbria that Melvyn Bragg will he remembered as one of the 1989- The Late Show (presenter) greatest of the ITV leaders in the 1980s and 1990s, and 1995 Johnny and the Dead (executive at the dawn of the 21st century. producer) ANDREW QUICKE 1.998 The Sundays (presenter) 1999 Two Thousand Years Melvyn Bragg. Born in Carlisle, Cumberland. En- 2000 Who's Afraid of the Ten Commandments gland, October 6, 1939. Educated at Nelson- Thomlinson Grammar School, Wigton. Cumberland. 1950-58: Wadham College, Oxford, 1958-61, M.A. Television Specials (selected) honors, 1961. Married: 1) Marie -Elisabeth Roche, 1965 The Debussy Film (writer, with Ken 1961 (died, 1971); one daughter; 2) Catherine Mary Russell) Haste, 1973; one daughter and one son. General 1970 Charity Begins at Home (writer)

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