Martyn Lewis (journalist)
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- This article is about the British TV newsreader. There are two other prominent broadcasters with the same name - but spelled differently. For the humorist/writer/producer/TV and radio host - see Martin Lewis. For the British financial journalist - see Martin Lewis (financial journalist). For other persons see Martyn Lewis (disambiguation) or Martin Lewis (disambiguation).
Martyn Lewis CBE (born 7 April 1945) is a British television news presenter and journalist.
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[edit] Early life
Lewis was born in Swansea, West Glamorgan, educated at the co-educational Dalriada School in Ulster and graduated with a BA degree from Trinity College, Dublin. He then joined BBC Northern Ireland in 1967.
[edit] Television news
He was a news presenter on HTV and ITN, before joining the BBC in 1986 to present BBC News bulletins until the major relaunch of all output in 1999.
Lewis became the first presenter of the One O'Clock News on BBC One on 27 October 1986 when it launched as part of the introduction of the channel's daytime schedule, replacing News After Noon. Subsequently, he presented other bulletins including the Six O'Clock News and Nine O'Clock News.
He created a modicum of controversy in 1993 when he claimed that television should feature more "good news". He subsequently stated that he had been misunderstood on the matter.
Lewis played a prominent role in the announcement of the death of Princess Diana mid-morning on Sunday 31 August 1997. During the coverage, Lewis was almost brought to tears following Tony Blair's "People's Princess" statement.[1]
[edit] Other television
Lewis was the long-running host, from 1993, of the BBC news-based quiz show Today's the Day.
He retired from newsreading in 1999 and since then has presented occasional programmes on ITV including Dateline Jerusalem & Ultimate Questions.
He also appeared on 'The Vicar of Dibley' in 2000 as himself.
[edit] Charity work
Lewis was awarded a CBE in 1997 for his services to young people and the hospice movement. He is president of United Response, a charity supporting people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to live in the community, in England and in Wales.
He has also concentrated on the youth charity YouthNet UK, which he founded in 1995 and has been the charity's chairman since its inception. The charity operates two websites aimed at young people: TheSite.org and Do-It.
[edit] Other business
Lewis is the Chairman of Teliris, one of the first telepresence systems developed. He has aggressively marketed this solution through close personal contacts among CEOs of FTSE 100 companies, such as Sir Chris Gent, former CEO of Vodafone.
[edit] Trivia
Lewis was part of ITN's "Famous Five", with Gordon Honeycombe, Anna Ford, Selina Scott and Julia Somerville. As part of the celebrations for ITN's 50th anniversary, he returned to television news to present a special edition of the ITV Evening News with Mary Nightingale in September 2005.
Lewis appears as a news reader in the 19th James Bond film, 'The World Is Not Enough' and in archive footage featured in 'The Queen'.
Is the father of singer/songwriter Sylvie Lewis.
Has written numerous books including 'Reflections on Success', compiled of 63 interviews with famous achievers talking frankly to Lewis about their paths to success.
