Alastair Yates
Encyclopedia
Alastair Yates is a British
journalist
. He worked with the BBC
, on BBC World News and BBC News until his retirement in April 2011.
Born and brought up in Burton upon Trent
, Yates was educated at Manor House School, Ashby and the former Burton Grammar School. Before deciding on journalism
as a career Yates was a DJ and managed pop and folk groups.
Yates, under the pseudonym Al Kay, got his broadcasting break when he began a weekly Saturday morning pop show on Radio Derby in 1973. That same station offered him the chance to move away from music-based shows to speech programming. He began his journalism career in 1976 with BBC Local Radio
stations in Derby
, Leicester
, and Birmingham
. He made his debut TV appearance at Pebble Mill in Birmingham in 1978 reporting for BBC Midlands's regional news programme Midlands Today
. Whilst at BBC Midlands, Yates was also a regional continuity announcer and newsreader. He also appeared in some "Play for Today" dramas as himself. He left the BBC and joined ITV in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1980.at Grampian Television
as a presenter and reporter for North Tonight
. By 1986 he was presenting Anglia Television
's evening news show About Anglia
.
Yates joined Sky Television
from its launch in 1989, becoming the first male face on Sky News
.
In 1992 he began presenting on BBC World News. And in 1997 he was part of the launch team for BBC News24 (now the BBC News Channel). He took a couple of years out from BBC TV News in 1998 to become an anchor on Deutsche Welle
in Germany
. He returned to the BBC
, again to appear on both BBC World News and the BBC News Channel.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He worked with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, on BBC World News and BBC News until his retirement in April 2011.
Born and brought up in Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, Yates was educated at Manor House School, Ashby and the former Burton Grammar School. Before deciding on journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
as a career Yates was a DJ and managed pop and folk groups.
Yates, under the pseudonym Al Kay, got his broadcasting break when he began a weekly Saturday morning pop show on Radio Derby in 1973. That same station offered him the chance to move away from music-based shows to speech programming. He began his journalism career in 1976 with BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. They cover a variety of areas with some serving a city and surrounding areas, for example BBC Radio Manchester; a county, for example BBC Radio Norfolk; an administrative region for...
stations in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. He made his debut TV appearance at Pebble Mill in Birmingham in 1978 reporting for BBC Midlands's regional news programme Midlands Today
Midlands Today
Midlands Today is the BBC's regional television news programme for the West Midlands region, which covers the north of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands county...
. Whilst at BBC Midlands, Yates was also a regional continuity announcer and newsreader. He also appeared in some "Play for Today" dramas as himself. He left the BBC and joined ITV in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1980.at Grampian Television
Grampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
as a presenter and reporter for North Tonight
North Tonight
North Tonight was a Scottish nightly regional news programme covering the North of Scotland, produced by STV North .-History:North Tonight began on 7 January 1980 with presenters John Duncanson and Selina Scott...
. By 1986 he was presenting Anglia Television
Anglia Television
Anglia Television is the ITV franchise holder for the East Anglia franchise region. Although Anglia Television takes its name from East Anglia, its transmission coverage extends beyond the generally accepted boundaries of that region. The station is based at Anglia House in Norwich, with regional...
's evening news show About Anglia
About Anglia
About Anglia, first broadcast in 1960, is the flagship television news magazine for Anglia Television. Its original presenter was Dick Joice....
.
Yates joined Sky Television
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
from its launch in 1989, becoming the first male face on Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
.
In 1992 he began presenting on BBC World News. And in 1997 he was part of the launch team for BBC News24 (now the BBC News Channel). He took a couple of years out from BBC TV News in 1998 to become an anchor on Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle or DW, is Germany's international broadcaster. The service is aimed at the overseas market. It broadcasts news and information on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio on 98.7 DZFE in 30 languages . It has a satellite television service , that is available in four languages, and...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He returned to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, again to appear on both BBC World News and the BBC News Channel.