Brian Walden RIP

I was sorry to see that Brian Walden, the former Labour MP who became a TV interviewer, has died at the age of 86. Walden died on Thursday at his home in Guernsey from complications connected to emphysema, according to an announcement made by former broadcasting colleagues on behalf of his widow, Hazel.

He represented the Birmingham constituency of All Saints for a decade from 1964. After the seat was abolished, he became the MP for Birmingham Ladywood.

Renowned as an outstanding House of Commons orator, Walden remained a backbench MP and, in 1977, he quit parliament to become a journalist and broadcaster.

He took over from Peter Jay as host of London Weekend Television’s Weekend World politics show and presented the programme for nine years.

In my opinion he was one of the greatest, very possibly the greatest, TV interviewers of all time.

Rest in Peace.

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