Redhead, Brian (1929–1994)

English journalist and broadcaster, best known as co-host of Radio 4's Today programme 1975–94, where he won over listeners with his jaunty, confident manner and often idiosyncratic interviewing style. Redhead worked for the Manchester Guardian from 1954, becoming northern editor in 1964, and he was appointed editor of the Manchester Evening News in 1969. He left newspaper journalism to join the Today team 1975. His highly idiosyncratic and unpredictable broadcasts gained a large and devoted following.

The son of a Newcastle-upon-Tyne printer who had earlier been a professional boxer, Redhead won a scholarship to the city's Royal Grammar School and later studied history at Cambridge. Within five years of joining the Manchester Guardian he was made features editor. After a stint on the BBC's Tonight programme in 1962, Redhead returned to the Manchester Guardian, assuming the role of northern editor after the move of the main editorial departments to London in 1964. In 1969 he was made editor of the sister paper of the Manchester Guardian, the Manchester Evening News. Increasingly in demand as a part-time broadcaster, he achieved a cult following with his Radio 4 programme A Word in Edgeways.

Having failed to win the editorship of the Manchester Guardian, he quit journalism in 1975 and joined Radio 4's Today programme, quickly winning over listeners with his direct line of questioning and welcome unpredictability. Politicians found these last qualities unnerving and numerous on-air clashes occurred.