Fred Housego
Encyclopedia
Fred Housego is a former London taxi driver who became a television and radio personality and presenter after winning the BBC
quiz Mastermind
in 1980. His specialist subject in the final was 'The Tower of London'. However, he did not give up his taxi licence and continued to drive a cab throughout his subsequent media career.
He was educated at Kynaston Comprehensive School (where he passed one GCE
O-level in British Constitution) and also worked as a messenger for an advertising agency, a postman and a registered London Tourist Board tour guide
.
Apart from Mastermind, television appearances by Fred Housego include Blankety Blank
, The Pyramid Game
, History On Your Doorstep, The Six O'Clock Show (on which he was a presenter) and This is Your Life
.
However, it is radio where Housego has spent most of his broadcasting career, and he became well known to Londoners as the host of an all-night radio phone-in show on LBC
for many years during the 1990s. He also presented an LBC series about radio comedy during the same period. More recently he has been heard on BBC Radio 4 presenting a documentary
and on various Radio 4 panel game
s and quizzes. He has also appeared on Start the Week
and as a contestant on Round Britain Quiz
on BBC Radio 4
.
In keeping with his knowledge of London, he has published a book entitled Fred Housego's London.
He was the Pye TV Personality of the Year in 1981 and spoke to the Oxford
and Cambridge Unions.
Fred is also a keen West Ham United supporter and has made several appearances at the ground during half-time presenting various awards.
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...
quiz Mastermind
Mastermind (TV series)
Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness.Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the...
in 1980. His specialist subject in the final was 'The Tower of London'. However, he did not give up his taxi licence and continued to drive a cab throughout his subsequent media career.
He was educated at Kynaston Comprehensive School (where he passed one GCE
General Certificate of Education
The General Certificate of Education or GCE is an academic qualification that examination boards in the United Kingdom and a few of the Commonwealth countries, notably Sri Lanka, confer to students. The GCE traditionally comprised two levels: the Ordinary Level and the Advanced Level...
O-level in British Constitution) and also worked as a messenger for an advertising agency, a postman and a registered London Tourist Board tour guide
Tour guide
A tour guide provides assistance, information and cultural, historical and contemporary heritage interpretation to people on organized tours, individual clients, educational establishments, at religious and historical sites, museums, and at venues of other significant interest...
.
Apart from Mastermind, television appearances by Fred Housego include Blankety Blank
Blankety Blank
Blankety Blank is a British comedy game show based on the 1977–1978 Australian game show Blankety Blanks ....
, The Pyramid Game
The Pyramid Game
The Pyramid Game was a United Kingdom game show based on the American format of the same name that was originally shown on ITV from 1981 to 1984 then 1989 to 1990 hosted by Steve Jones, then revived by Challenge in 2007 hosted by Donny Osmond....
, History On Your Doorstep, The Six O'Clock Show (on which he was a presenter) and This is Your Life
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards...
.
However, it is radio where Housego has spent most of his broadcasting career, and he became well known to Londoners as the host of an all-night radio phone-in show on LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
for many years during the 1990s. He also presented an LBC series about radio comedy during the same period. More recently he has been heard on BBC Radio 4 presenting a documentary
Radio documentary
A radio documentary or feature is a purely acoustic performance devoted to covering a particular topic in some depth, usually with a mixture of commentary and sound pictures. It is broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD...
and on various Radio 4 panel game
Panel game
A panel game or panel show is a radio or television game show in which a panel of celebrities participates. Panelists may compete with each other, such as on The News Quiz; facilitate play by guest contestants, such as on Match Game/Blankety Blank; or do both, such as on Wait Wait.....
s and quizzes. He has also appeared on Start the Week
Start the Week
Start the Week is a discussion programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 which began in April 1970. The current presenter is the former BBC political editor Andrew Marr...
and as a contestant on Round Britain Quiz
Round Britain Quiz
Round Britain Quiz is a panel game that has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 since 1947, making it the oldest quiz still broadcast on British radio...
on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
In keeping with his knowledge of London, he has published a book entitled Fred Housego's London.
He was the Pye TV Personality of the Year in 1981 and spoke to the Oxford
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
and Cambridge Unions.
Fred is also a keen West Ham United supporter and has made several appearances at the ground during half-time presenting various awards.
Publications
- London: a portrait of Britain's historic capital, Hamlyn, 1982, ISBN 0600342949