Nick Dando

I've just heard on "Today" from Radio Four that Sheridan Morley has just died at the age of 65. The BBC News obituary doesn't mention his biography of David Niven though.

Broadcaster Sheridan Morley dies

Sheridan Morley came from a theatrical family
Broadcaster and theatre critic Sheridan Morley has died unexpectedly in his sleep, aged 65.
Morley was also an author, journalist, director and actor.

But he would be most remembered for his love and appreciation for a broad range of the arts, particularly the theatre, said the BBC's Colin Paterson.

After a spell at ITV news in the 1960s he moved into the arts, presenting BBC Radio 4's Kaleidoscope, Radio 2's Arts Programme and later, Melodies for You.

"He had incredible enthusiasm and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the performing arts," said our correspondent.

Newsreader

Although his early attempts at acting failed to impress his actor father Robert Morley, he turned to it again in later life, appearing in the BBC series Judge John Deed.

Morley - grandson of actress Dame Gladys Cooper - was born in Ascot, Berkshire.

He was educated at Sizewell Hall, Suffolk and Merton College, Oxford.

Early in his career, as a ITV newsreader, he announced the assassination in 1963 of US President John F Kennedy.

He presented Late Night Line-Up on BBC 2 from 1967 to 1975 and also during that time presented Film Night every week alongside several other BBC2 arts specials.

He joined The Times as assistant editor before becoming drama critic and arts editor of Punch in 1975, and went on to become the theatre critic for numerous newspapers and magazines.

His many publications include A Talent To Amuse - The Life of Noel Coward, The Stephen Sondheim Songbook, The Noel Coward Diaries, Tales from The Hollywood Raj, The Theatregoers Quiz Book and The Great Stage Stars.

He also wrote biographies of Dirk Bogarde, Gene Kelly, Sir John Gielgud and his own memoirs Asking For Trouble.

His varied career also included writing his own musicals which included Noel and Gertie and Spread A Little Happiness.

Controller of BBC Proms and Live Events Nicholas Kenyon said Morley - who presented more than 1,000 editions of the Arts Programme - was "interested in everything".

"That was the extraordinary voracious sense with which every week on that programme he would devour whatever was going on."

thirdlady

BBC NEWS | UK | Broadcaster Sheridan Morley dies

A.S.Carroll
"Happiness isn't sold in bottles you have to achieve it in your own lifetime!"

Phil Turner

I was sad to hear of his premature death. He was a terrific supporter of the arts in general, and I thought Quentin Letts' tribute was very apt. He called Sheridan Morley a lover of the "sentimental" and the "traditional". Not a bad thing in my opinion.

Regards
Phil Turner

image45

Yes indeed very sad tohave read this too!

"Seya next time!"