Brian Redhead (28 December1929 _ 23 January1994) was a British author, journalist and broadcaster. He was probably best known as a co-presenter of The Today Programme on BBC Radio 4 which he worked on from 1975 until 1993, shortly before his his death. He was a great lover and promoter of the city of Manchester where he lived and worked for many years.
His career in journalism started in 1954 as a journalist for the Manchester Guardian newspaper. Later in his career he worked as editor of the Manchester Evening News. He joined Today after being passed over for the editorship of The Guardian in favour of Peter Preston.
During his time on the Today programme, Redhead was famously accused of political bias by ConservativeChancellorNigel Lawson, and in reply demanded that Lawson "apologise for daring to suggest that you know how I vote." He later had a similar set-to with Trade and Industry SecretaryPeter Lilley.
The death of Redhead's son in a car crash in 1982 led him to rediscover religious faith, and he became a confirmed member of the Church of England. In the last years of his life there was some speculation after his retirement from Today he would train for ordination as an Anglican priest.
In 1993 his health started to fail and he was in pain on his left side and leg. He was thought to need hip surgery, but in fact had a ruptured appendix which was leaking toxins, causing liver and kidney failure and other problems. He took leave from Today in early December, expecting to return after Christmas, but never returned, dying in January 1994.
Books by Brian Redhead
Brian Redhead Manchester - a Celebration. André Deutsch Limited, London. ISBN 0233988165
Brian Redhead Personal Perspectives. Haper Collins Publishers January, 1996 Hardcover ISBN 0006386857
Brian Redhead Plato to NATO: Studies on political thought. Penguin Books 23 February, 1995 ISBN 0140246770
External links
Radio Hall of Fame: Brian Redhead (http://www.radioacademy.org/halloffame/redhead_b/)
Manchester Celebrities: Brian Redhead (http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/broadcasters2.html)
Redhead, anchor of the "Today" program, died in a hospital where he had undergone abdominal surgery last month for an abscess.
Redhead headed the morning program, a fixture at the British Broadcasting Corporation since 1957, for 18 years and came to be known for his abrasive interviewing technique.
Redhead is survived by his wife, Jenny, and three children.
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