Russell Harty
Encyclopedia
Russell Harty was an English
television presenter of arts programmes and chat shows.
, he was the son of a fruit and vegetable stallholder on the local market. He attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
on West Park Road and Exeter College, Oxford
, where he obtained a first-class degree in English Literature.
, North Yorkshire
. In 1964, he started a year lecturing in English Literature at the City University of New York
, and finally began his broadcasting career a few years later, when he became a radio producer for the BBC Third Programme, reviewing arts and literature.
He got his first break in 1970 presenting the arts programme Aquarius
that was intended to be London Weekend Television's
response to the BBC's
Omnibus. A memorable programme involved a typically bizarre clash of cultures as Harty travelled to Italy
to unite on camera the singer Gracie Fields
and the classical composer William Walton
.
In 1973 he was given his own series Russell Harty Plus on ITV
which placed him against the BBC's Parkinson
, conducting lengthy celebrity interviews. Parts of Russell Harty's interview with The Who
in 1973 were included in Jeff Stein's 1979 film The Kids Are Alright
, providing some of its most memorable moments, such as Pete Townshend
and Keith Moon
ripping off each other's shirt sleeves. The show lasted until 1981.
In 1981, Harty moved to the BBC with an early evening celebrity chatshow, which gained some unwelcome notice when he was smacked in the face by American singer Grace Jones
on live TV. Jones decided to act as if she were offended by Harty's turning away from her to talk to another guest. This show ended in 1985.
Harty began working on a new series Russell Harty's Grand Tour for the BBC in 1987; the few interviews completed before his death included Salvador Dalí
and Dirk Bogarde
.
Harty had a distinctly camp
turn of phrase; his name has been used as Cockney rhyming slang
for party. One of his catchphrases was "you were, were you not...?".
Russell Harty was a good friend of the playwright
Alan Bennett
, who talks about him and his family, in relation with Bennett's own family, in the episode "Written on the Body", taken from his semi-biography Untold Stories.
Harty had strong connections with the village of Giggleswick in North Yorkshire: before beginning his TV career he worked as an English
teacher at Giggleswick School
, where one of his pupils was Richard Whiteley
, the future TV presenter and host of Countdown
. Harty subsequently lived in the heart of Giggleswick village. Following his death in 1988 (from Hepatitis B) in a Leeds
hospital aged 53, he was buried in the churchyard of St Alkelda, Giggleswick.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
television presenter of arts programmes and chat shows.
Early life
Born Frederick Russell Harty in Blackburn, LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, he was the son of a fruit and vegetable stallholder on the local market. He attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Blackburn, Lancashire, founded in 1509 as a boys' school. The term "school" is usually used to collectively refer to the following:...
on West Park Road and Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, where he obtained a first-class degree in English Literature.
Career
On leaving university, Harty became an English and drama teacher in GiggleswickGiggleswick
Giggleswick is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England near the town of Settle. It is the site of Giggleswick School.-Origin of name:A Dictionary of British Place Names contains the entry:...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
. In 1964, he started a year lecturing in English Literature at the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
, and finally began his broadcasting career a few years later, when he became a radio producer for the BBC Third Programme, reviewing arts and literature.
He got his first break in 1970 presenting the arts programme Aquarius
Aquarius (TV series)
Aquarius is a British arts television series, produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV network. It ran from 1970-1977 when it was replaced by The South Bank Show....
that was intended to be London Weekend Television's
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
response to 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...
Omnibus. A memorable programme involved a typically bizarre clash of cultures as Harty travelled to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to unite on camera the singer Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
and the classical composer William Walton
William Walton
Sir William Turner Walton OM was an English composer. During a sixty-year career, he wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera...
.
In 1973 he was given his own series Russell Harty Plus on ITV
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...
which placed him against the BBC's Parkinson
Parkinson (TV series)
Parkinson is a British television talk show that was presented by Sir Michael Parkinson. It was first shown on the BBC from 1971 to 2004, and on ITV from 2004 to 2007.-Background:...
, conducting lengthy celebrity interviews. Parts of Russell Harty's interview with The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
in 1973 were included in Jeff Stein's 1979 film The Kids Are Alright
The Kids Are Alright
The Kids Are Alright can refer to:*"The Kids Are Alright" , a 1965 song by The Who*The Kids Are Alright , 1979 documentary film about the English rock band The Who...
, providing some of its most memorable moments, such as Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
and Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
ripping off each other's shirt sleeves. The show lasted until 1981.
In 1981, Harty moved to the BBC with an early evening celebrity chatshow, which gained some unwelcome notice when he was smacked in the face by American singer Grace Jones
Grace Jones
Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American singer, model and actress.Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance-club hits. In the late 1970s, she adapted the emerging electronic music style and adopted a severe, androgynous look with square-cut hair and...
on live TV. Jones decided to act as if she were offended by Harty's turning away from her to talk to another guest. This show ended in 1985.
Harty began working on a new series Russell Harty's Grand Tour for the BBC in 1987; the few interviews completed before his death included Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
and Dirk Bogarde
Dirk Bogarde
Sir Dirk Bogarde was an English actor and novelist. Initially a matinee idol in such films as Doctor in the House and other Rank Organisation pictures, Bogarde later acted in art-house films such as Death in Venice...
.
Harty had a distinctly camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
turn of phrase; his name has been used as Cockney rhyming slang
Cockney rhyming slang
Rhyming slang is a form of phrase construction in the English language and is especially prevalent in dialectal British English from the East End of London; hence the alternative name, Cockney rhyming slang...
for party. One of his catchphrases was "you were, were you not...?".
Russell Harty was a good friend of the playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett is a British playwright, screenwriter, actor and author. Born in Leeds, he attended Oxford University where he studied history and performed with The Oxford Revue. He stayed to teach and research mediaeval history at the university for several years...
, who talks about him and his family, in relation with Bennett's own family, in the episode "Written on the Body", taken from his semi-biography Untold Stories.
Harty had strong connections with the village of Giggleswick in North Yorkshire: before beginning his TV career he worked as an English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
teacher at Giggleswick School
Giggleswick School
Giggleswick School is an independent co-educational boarding school in Giggleswick, near Settle, North Yorkshire, England.- Early school :...
, where one of his pupils was Richard Whiteley
Richard Whiteley
John Richard Whiteley, OBE DL , usually known as Richard Whiteley, was an English broadcaster and journalist. He was famous for his twenty-three years as host of Countdown, a letters and numbers arrangement game show broadcast most weekdays on Channel 4...
, the future TV presenter and host of Countdown
Countdown (game show)
Countdown is a British game show involving word and number puzzles. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on Channel 4. It is presented by Jeff Stelling, assisted by Rachel Riley, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and over sixty-five...
. Harty subsequently lived in the heart of Giggleswick village. Following his death in 1988 (from Hepatitis B) in a Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
hospital aged 53, he was buried in the churchyard of St Alkelda, Giggleswick.