You are here

Sir Trevor McDonald to Receive the Academy Fellowship

16 May 2011
In the early eighties, Sir Trevor conducted the most important television interviews of the era including an interview with Nelson Mandela following his release from prison. (Pic: ITV)ITV

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts will present Sir Trevor McDonald OBE with the Academy Fellowship at its Television Awards ceremony on Sunday 22 May 2011.

Awarded annually, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by the Academy on an individual in recognition of their outstanding and exceptional contribution to television. Previously honoured Fellows include Richard Curtis, David Jason, Bruce Forsyth, Sir David Frost and Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Last year’s recipient was Melvyn Bragg.

John Willis, TV Committee Chair, said: “No journalist and presenter is better loved and respected by the audience than Sir Trevor Mcdonald. His authority and humanity has shone through all his work. He is a very worthy recipient of the Fellowship because, for many years, he has been simply the best.”

One of the most respected broadcasters of his generation, Sir Trevor McDonald is best known for his prolific newscasting work on ITN. Sir Trevor has anchored every ITN News programme, from News at One, News at 5.40, News at 6.30 to the flagship and BAFTA Award-winning News at Ten, and secured interviews with many of the world’s highest profile dignitaries and politicians.

Born and educated in Trinidad in the West Indies, Sir Trevor’s career began first as a radio reporter, news presenter and sports journalist. It was on his first major assignment that he was sent to London in 1962 to report on talks at Marlborough House, which resulted in his eventual move to the UK.

His first role on arrival was as a Producer in the BBC Overseas Regional Service at Bush House on the Aldwych, he went on to produce Current Affairs programmes for the BBC World Service and played a major part in the initiation of a number of shows such as The World Today which are still part of the BBC World Service schedule.

In the early eighties, Sir Trevor conducted the most important television interviews of the era: he was the only British television correspondent to interview Nelson Mandela following his release from prison, and later became the only British journalist to interview former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein.

In the ensuing years at ITN, Sir Trevor’s interviews with Libyan President Colonel Gaddafi, former PLO Leader Yasser Arafat, President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Colin Powell made the headlines and turned the news programme into an appointment to view.

From 1999 to December 2007, Sir Trevor presented ITV’s bi-weekly flagship current affairs programme, Tonight, during which time he interviewed President Bush on two occasions and political figures including Tony Blair, Condoleezza Rice and Hilary Clinton.

Sir Trevor’s professional success and dedication to newscasting was recognised in 1992, when he was awarded the OBE, which was followed by a Knighthood in 1999.

In 2005, Sir Trevor became the first sole presenter of News at Ten and had, by then, received more awards than any other newscaster in Britain, including BAFTA’s Richard Dimbleby Award in 1998 for the year’s most important personal contribution on the screen in factual television. He was named Newscaster of the Year in 1993, 1997 and 1999 and has recently topped the poll as the most authoritative and trustworthy news presenter.

Most recently, Sir Trevor has presented the documentaries Secret Caribbean and Secret Mediterranean for ITV and is about to start filming a new documentary for ITV in America.

Sir Trevor McDonald said: “This is a magnificent surprise. I am honoured and absolutely delighted to join such a distinguished list of previous recipients”.

The Philips British Academy Television Awards will be hosted by Graham Norton from Grosvenor House, London, and broadcast on BBC One on Sunday 22 May.

!! For further information, please contact:

Mary Williams at Freud Communications
T +44 (0) 203 003 6387
M +44 (0) 7968 996 782
E [email protected]

About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. For further information, visit www.bafta.org.