Denis Tuohy
Encyclopedia
Denis Tuohy, is a television broadcaster, actor, newsreader
, and journalist
who was born in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
and now lives in County Down
. He participated in several of the BBC's
current affairs
programmes of the 1970s, including the long-running Panorama
and also presented ITV's
This Week (known for a period of the 1980s as TV Eye). During the 1990s, he was mainly known for his work as a reporter for ITN.
Tuohy's most notable contribution to broadcasting history, however, was his early involvement with the BBC Two
channel and in fact his was the first face to appear "officially" on BBC Two. As the result of a disastrous power failure on the opening night, newsreader Gerald Priestland
was seen briefly before transmission was aborted and the official launch postponed until the day after. Tuohy headed the successful second attempt, however, sarcastically referring to the power cut by blowing out a candle on his desk. This image has since become an iconic piece of British television, frequently shown on TV history and nostalgia programmes.
Margaret Thatcher
considered that an interview she had with Tuohy in the course of the 1979 general election campaign was the most hostile she ever experienced. While Tuohy was a familiar face to television viewers his interviews were direct but not typically aggressive.
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
, and 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...
who was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and now lives in County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. He participated in several of the BBC's
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...
current affairs
Current affairs (news format)
Current Affairs is a genre of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or are ongoing at the time of broadcast....
programmes of the 1970s, including the long-running Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
and also presented ITV's
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
This Week (known for a period of the 1980s as TV Eye). During the 1990s, he was mainly known for his work as a reporter for ITN.
Tuohy's most notable contribution to broadcasting history, however, was his early involvement with the BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
channel and in fact his was the first face to appear "officially" on BBC Two. As the result of a disastrous power failure on the opening night, newsreader Gerald Priestland
Gerald Priestland
Gerald Francis Priestland was a news correspondent and newsreader for the BBC.-Early life and work:Gerald Priestland was educated at Charterhouse and New College, Oxford. He began his work at the BBC with a six-month spell writing obituary pieces for broadcast news...
was seen briefly before transmission was aborted and the official launch postponed until the day after. Tuohy headed the successful second attempt, however, sarcastically referring to the power cut by blowing out a candle on his desk. This image has since become an iconic piece of British television, frequently shown on TV history and nostalgia programmes.
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
considered that an interview she had with Tuohy in the course of the 1979 general election campaign was the most hostile she ever experienced. While Tuohy was a familiar face to television viewers his interviews were direct but not typically aggressive.