Reginald Bosanquet

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Reginald Bosanquet (9 August 1932 - 27 May 1984) was a newsreader on Independent Television News in the United Kingdom for several years. He was educated at Winchester College and at Oxford University.

He was the son of the cricketer Bernard Bosanquet and a cousin of the public relations executive Christopher Bosanquet.

Bosanquet's partnership with Anna Ford on ITN News was very popular in the late 1970s, but he became a controversial figure in British television. Viewers were sometimes not impressed by his competence at reading the news, he was often clearly puzzled by the correct pronunciation of foreign names, and by news stories containing technical matters he did not understand. He was also widely rumoured to be a heavy drinker, nicknamed "Reginald Beaujolais" or "Reginald Boozalot".

Reginald briefly became head anchor of ITN from 1974-1976, when Alastair Burnet left to join the BBC's Panorama programme.

Bosanquet was also the subject of a "Not The Nine O'Clock News" song, sung by Pamela Stephenson, where she sang about her love for him, mocking his apparent alcoholism.

Bosanquet was elected as Lord Rector of Glasgow University from 1980 to 1984. He was a controversial choice. Shortly after his election he hit the headlines when he turned up at an official reception late and considerably the worse for drink, and insulted various guests, including the Lord Provost of Glasgow.

Bosanquet was married three times. He died from pancreatic cancer aged 51.