Derek Jameson

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Derek Jameson (born 29 November 1929) is a British tabloid journalist and broadcaster.

He was evacuated from London in WW2. His career began in Fleet Street, as a messenger boy, before becoming managing editor of the Daily Mirror newspaper and editor of the Daily Express, Daily Star and News of the World.

He joined BBC Radio 2 in late 1985, sitting in for Jimmy Young, before taking over the breakfast show from Ken Bruce in March 1986, presenting it until December 1991. He then hosted the Monday to Thursday late-night show, along with his wife Ellen, until March 1997.

In 1989 he began presenting the BBC1 television show People.

Now retired from broadcasting, Jameson wrote a weekly column in the Brighton Argus until October 2000, and is an after-dinner speaker.

[edit] Portrayals

Jameson's cockney accent and abrasive persona caused Private Eye to refer to him as Sid Yobbo.

Jameson brought an action against the BBC over a 1980 sketch on Radio4's Week Ending which described him as an "East End boy made bad": Jameson lost the action when it came to court in 1984;^[1] the jury found the broadcast defamatory, but also fair comment and Jameson had to pay costs.

[edit] References

^ David Hooper (2000) Reputations Under Fire: Winners and Losers in the Libel Business, Little, Brown, p234-41

Preceded by Roy Wright	Editor of The Daily Express March 1977 - 1980	Succeeded by Arthur Firth
Preceded by Ken Bruce	BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show Presenter 1986-1991	Succeeded by Brian Hayes