Chris Stuart

Christopher Elliot Stuart (19 February 1949 – 12 July 2022) was a British journalist, songwriter and radio and television presenter and producer.^[1] He was executive producer of the BBC Two quiz series Only Connect. As a presenter, he fronted the early breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 between 1988 and 1991. He was also one of the first presenters on BBC Radio Wales.^[2]

Stuart was born in Durham on 19 February 1949 and grew up in Manchester, Hull, Birmingham, Nottinghamshire, before his family settled in Leicestershire.^[3] He read philosophy, politics and economics at New College, Oxford, and after graduation moved to Wales where he began working as a journalist for the Western Mail. He was also a musician and a member of the comedy band "Baby Grand", who had two BBC Two TV series and released an album on the Decca label.^[4]

In 1978, he joined the newly formed BBC Radio Wales and hosted the station's breakfast show, AM, for almost ten years. On television, Stuart hosted the 1989 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition^[5] and also fronted his own chat show on BBC Wales called The Chris Stuart Cha Cha Chat Show. He had been an active songwriter and, among other music credits, composed the theme tunes and incidental music for the animation series SuperTed and Sali Mali, both produced by Calon.^[6]

In 1985, Stuart began working on BBC Radio 2 as stand-in presenter, mainly covering for Roger Royle on Good Morning Sunday and for Ray Moore on the station's early breakfast show.^[7] When Moore left in 1988, due to health issues, Stuart replaced him for three years and after Frances Line became station controller, he moved to the late night programme until the beginning of 1992,^[8] when he was replaced by Derek Jameson and his wife.^[9]

Stuart siguió vinculado a Radio 2; durante tres años presentó el programa de crítica cinematográfica de los sábados y continuó sustituyendo a otros presentadores, entre ellos Terry Wogan , Jimmy Young , Gloria Hunniford y John Dunn . ^{[ 3 ]}

Para Radio 4 presentó varias temporadas del concurso científico Inspiration y también trabajó como comentarista de la cadena en eventos importantes, incluidos los funerales de Diana, Princesa de Gales , y la Reina Isabel, la Reina Madre . ^{[ 1 ]} Durante más de dos décadas, comentó el Festival anual de la Memoria de la RBL en el Royal Albert Hall . Stuart también se mantuvo vinculado a BBC Radio Wales , presentando la cobertura deportiva de los sábados de la emisora ​​durante cinco años. En 2014, Radio Wales le rindió homenaje como parte de la serie Radio Greats . ^{[ 10 ]}

En 1978, Stuart se casó con Caroline Lynch-Blosse. Tuvieron una hija, Josephine, pero el matrimonio terminó en divorcio. Posteriormente, Stuart se casó con Megan, exeditora de BBC Radio Wales y productora del programa Woman's Hour de Radio 4. Tuvieron tres hijos y Stuart también era padre de otro hijo de un matrimonio anterior . En 1992, Stuart y su esposa fundaron una productora independiente llamada Presentable , cuya amplia producción incluyó Late Night Poker para Channel 4 , así como Only Connect . ^{[ 11 ]} La empresa fue vendida en 2006 a RDF Media, que posteriormente se fusionó con Zodiak Media . ^{[ 12 ]}

Stuart murió de cáncer colorrectal el 12 de julio de 2022, a la edad de 73 años. ^{[ 13 ]} La 18.ª temporada de Only Connect fue dedicada en su memoria. ^{[ 14 ]}

• Stuart – UKgameshows.com
• Biografía en Othertalent
• Chris Stuart en IMDb
• Discografía de Chris Stuart en Discogs