Chris Stuart
{{Short description|British journalist (1949–2022)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chris Stuart
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Christopher Elliot Stuart
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1949|02|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Durham, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|07|12|1949|02|19|df=y}}
| death_place =
| education = New College, Oxford
| occupation = Broadcaster, journalist
| known_for = {{ublist|BBC Radio Wales|BBC Radio 2|Only Connect}}
| title =
| spouse = Megan Stuart
| children = 4
| nationality =
| website =
}}
Christopher Elliot Stuart (19 February 1949 – 12 July 2022) was a British journalist, songwriter and radio and television presenter and producer.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62147671 |title=Chris Stuart: Ex-BBC Radio Wales presenter dies aged 73 |work=BBC News |access-date=13 July 2022}} 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.{{cite news| url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tributes-pour-radio-2-star-2081164 | work=Wales Online | first=James | last=McCarthy | title=Tributes pour in for Radio 2 star Sir Terry Wogan}}
Life and career
Stuart was born in Durham on 19 February 1949 and grew up in Manchester, Hull, Birmingham, Nottinghamshire, before his family settled in Leicestershire.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/07/17/chris-stuart-radio-dj-commentator-funerals-princess-wales-queen/|title=Chris Stuart, Radio DJ and commentator at the funerals of the Princess of Wales and the Queen Mother – obituary|website=The Telegraph|date=17 July 2022|access-date=17 July 2022}} 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.{{cite news| url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/presentable-dealt-golden-hand-big-2342235 | work=Wales Online | first=David | last=Williamson | title=Presentable dealt a golden hand with big money sale}}
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{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctwo/england/1989-06-12#at-19.20|title=BBC2 – 12 June 1989 – BBC Genome|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}} 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.{{cite news| url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/presentable-dealt-golden-hand-big-2342235 | work=Wales Online | first=David | last=Williamson | title=Presentable dealt a golden hand with big money sale}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio2/1985-10-27#at-7.30|title=BBC Radio 2 – 27 October 1985|publisher=BBC}} 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,{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio2/1992-01-02|title=BBC Radio 2 – 2 January 1992 – BBC Genome|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}} when he was replaced by Derek Jameson and his wife.{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio2/1992-01-06|title=BBC Radio 2 – 6 January 1992 – BBC Genome|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}
Stuart remained associated with Radio 2; for three years he hosted the Saturday film review show and continued to stand-in for other presenters including Terry Wogan, Jimmy Young, Gloria Hunniford, and John Dunn.
For Radio 4 he presented several series of the science quiz, Inspiration and also worked as a network commentator on major events including the funeral services of Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. For more than two decades, he commentated on the annual RBL Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. Stuart also remained associated with BBC Radio Wales, presenting the station's Saturday sports coverage for five years. In 2014, Radio Wales paid tribute to him as part of series called Radio Greats.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03v2z70|title=BBC Radio Wales – Radio Greats|publisher=BBC Radio Wales}}
Personal life
In 1978, Stuart married Caroline Lynch-Blosse. They had a daughter Josephine, but the marriage ended in divorce. Stuart then married Megan, a former Editor of BBC Radio Wales and producer on Radio 4's Woman's Hour. They had three children and Stuart was also father to another child from a previous marriage. In 1992, Stuart and his wife set up an independent production company called Presentable, whose wide-ranging output included Late Night Poker for Channel 4, as well as Only Connect.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/chris-stuart-death-only-connect-b2122869.html|title=Chris Stuart: Only Connect creator and radio presenter dies aged 73|date=14 July 2022|author=Ellie Iorizzo|website=The Independent|access-date=15 July 2022}} The company was sold in 2006 to RDF Media who subsequently merged with Zodiak Media.{{cite news| url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/presentable-dealt-golden-hand-big-2342235 | work=Wales Online | first=David | last=Williamson | title=Presentable dealt a golden hand with big money sale}}
Stuart died from colorectal cancer on 12 July 2022, at the age of 73.{{cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jul/22/chris-stuart-obituary|title = Chris Stuart obituary|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 22 July 2022|accessdate = 25 July 2022|last = Hargreaves|first = Ian}} The 18th series of Only Connect was dedicated in his memory.{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Louise |date=29 August 2022 |title=Only Connect series dedicated to creator Chris Stuart after his death as Victoria Coren Mitchell pays tribute |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/29/only-connect-series-dedicated-to-creator-chris-stuart-after-his-death-17263988/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |website=Metro}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Chris_Stuart|Chris Stuart – UKgameshows.com]
- [http://www.radiocafe.co.uk/other.htm Bio at Othertalent]
- {{imdb name|2150115}}
- {{discogs artist|Chris Stuart (2)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, Chris}}
Category:Alumni of New College, Oxford
Category:BBC Radio 2 presenters
Category:BBC Radio Wales presenters
Category:British male journalists
Category:British radio personalities
Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer