Broadcasting legend Cooke dies at 95

VETERAN BBC broadcaster Alistair Cooke died yesterday at his home in New York. He was 95.

For 58 years, Mr Cooke presented his BBC radio series Letter from America, the world’s longest-running spoken radio programme.

Earlier this month, he announced his retirement on health grounds following advice from his doctors.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair described him as “a remarkable man” and BBC acting director general Mark Byford said he was “one of the greatest broadcasters ever in the history of the BBC”.

Mr Cooke joined the BBC as a film critic in 1934 and began writing his famous show in 1946.

It was listened to across Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East via the BBC’s World Service, and was heard in Britain on BBC Radio 4.

His 15-minute reflections touched on everything from the assassinations of the Kennedys to the terrorist attacks of 11 September.

One of his most memorable accounts came when he happened to be at the scene when Bobby Kennedy was shot in 1968.