THE PERFECT ANCHORMAN
Former Beatle Sir Paul leads the tributes as TV newsman dies at 77
TRIBUTES were last night paid to “world-class journalist” Peter Sissons.
The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 broadcaster, who died aged 77, was best known as a calm and consummate professional – but his 45 years as a journalist had scary times too.
He was shot in both legs in 1968 while reporting on the Nigerian Civil War, and two decades later Iran issued a fatwa against him, meaning he and his family needed 24-hour protection.
Peter was born and raised in Liverpool. His friends at school included two lads who became even more well known than him – Sir Paul McCartney and fellow Beatles star George Harrison.
Sir Paul led tributes to his “old school mate”, saying: “I will miss him but always have fond memories of the time we spent together.”
BBC director-general Tony Hall said: “Peter Sissons was one of the great television figures of his time – as an interviewer, presenter and world-class journalist.”
Peter was born in 1942. His dad was a Merchant Navy officer and his mum worked in a department store.
While studying at Oxford University, Peter spent his holidays working as a bus conductor in Liverpool. He later said dealing with tricky customers prepared him for handling difficult interviewees.
After graduating, he joined ITN in 1964. He was a foreign correspondent when wounded by gunfire in the civil war.
He was later promoted to news editor, then industrial editor before becoming a presenter of ITN’s News at One in 1978.
When Channel 4 was launched in 1982, he was chosen to present its nightly news programme, alongside the likes of Sir Trevor McDonald.
He joined the BBC in 1989 as host of Question Time, as well as joint presenter of the Six O’Clock News.
It was in this year he interviewed the Iranian ambassador about the fatwa issued to author Salman Rushsdie.
The father of three admitted later he found it “very hard” to keep his anger from showing. The interview led to the fatwa being extended to him.
He moved to the Nine O’Clock News in 1994, presenting 10 hours of coverage on the day of Princess Di’s death in 1997.
In 2002, he drew criticism for wearing a burgundy tie rather than black when breaking the news of the Queen Mother’s death. He wrote in 2011 that the “unfair criticism... still hurt”.
After retiring from broadcasting in 2009, he returned to his home city and sat on the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which published a report into the 1989 football stadium disaster in 2012.
He married Sylvia in 1965 and they had three children. His family were with him when he died in Maidstone Hospital, Kent.