Richard Morecroft

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Richard Morecroft
Born (1956-01-20) 20 January 1956
Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Nationality Australian
Occupation Broadcaster
Known for Host of Behind the News; the 7pm ABC News New South Wales bulletin; Letters and Numbers

Richard Morecroft (born 20 January 1956)[1] is an Australian television presenter and former host of the ABC News Sydney bulletin.[2] He is currently host of the quiz-show Letters and Numbers.

Early life

Morecroft was born in Market Harborough in the English Midlands.[3][4] His father Peter and mother Phyll moved the family to Adelaide in 1966 for the benefit of his brother Andrew's respiratory problems and set up a dentist's practice there.[3]

Broadcasting career

Morecroft introducing an ABC news report on Lindy Chamberlain in 1986.

He studied English and Drama at the University of Adelaide with thoughts of becoming an actor or teacher.[3] He became involved in the university radio station and auditioned for the ABC before completing his degree.[3] He was hired as a radio announcer and later transferred to work in television, hosting the 7pm Adelaide bulletin for a couple of years before being approached to replace James Dibble who had presented the bulletin since it began in 1956.[3][5][6][7] He moved to Sydney in 1982 and took over the 7pm Sydney bulletin in July 1983, as well as presenting Behind the News and co-hosting The Nation with Geraldine Doogue, with Max Walsh and Richard Carlton reporting.[3] Also during his time with the ABC, Morecroft participated in the production of Raising Archie with the ABC's Natural History Unit about a flying fox which he raised and used to keep under the news desk while at work.[3] Morecroft presented the bulletin until 2001 and also hosted election-night coverage and educational programs.[2][3][6][7]

He left the ABC in 2001, was replaced by Tony Eastley, and moved to a property near Jervis Bay with his partner Alison Mackay to a tree change and other professional opportunities.[3][6][8][9][10][11]

Morecroft returned to the ABC to host Richard Morecroft Goes Wild in 2002, drawing on his passion for environmental issues.[2][10][12]

In 2010, it was announced that he would host Letters and Numbers, an Australian version of the French game show Des chiffres et des lettres on which the British game show Countdown is based, on SBS.[13][14] The first program aired on 2 August 2010.[13] Morecroft was joined by crossword writer David Astle and mathematician Lily Serna.[13]

Environmental activities

Morecroft is a governor of the Taronga Foundation and a director of the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales.[2][3] He is a trustee of the World Wide Fund for Nature and is a patron of WIRES.[2]

Publications

His book 20 Years from the Waist Up was published in 2002.[2][15]

Media offices
Preceded by
James Dibble		 ABC News NSW presenter
1983-2001 		Succeeded by
Tony Eastley

References

  1. ↑ Hosts: Richard Morecroft, David Astle and Lily Serna (20-01-2011). Letters and Numbers. [1. Episode 124]. 00:00:40 - 00:00:55 minutes in. SBS. "Before I answer that question, I just want to say, 'Happy Birthday!'."
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Corporate Biography". richardmorecroft.com. Richard Morecroft. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Paul Connolly (2010-08-29). "Richard Morecroft". The Sun-Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 2 March 2011. 
  4. ↑ Hosts: Richard Morecroft, David Astle and Lily Serna (03-03-2011). Letters and Numbers. [2. Episode 154]. 00:24:00 - 00:24:30 minutes in. SBS. "This was when I was a child growing up in England."
  5. ↑ "1956". Key Stories. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Richard Morecroft". Radio National Breakfast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 January 2002. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "About". Richard Morecroft Goes Wild. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2003. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
  8. ↑ "Tony Eastley". AM. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
  9. ↑ Belinda Tromp (09/07/2007). "Coast and Country - Richard Morecroft". Bush Telegraph. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Meet the Hosts: Richard Morecroft". Letters and Numbers website. Special Broadcasting Service. 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  11. ↑ Sacha Molitorisz (2 August 2010). "Boot camp for the brain". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  12. ↑ "Archive". Richard Morecroft Goes Wild. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2003. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 David Knox (13 June 2010). "Richard Morecroft to host Letters and Numbers". hadnews.com. hadnews.com. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
  14. ↑ "Letters and Numbers". sbs.com.au. Special Broadcasting Service. 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
  15. ↑ "20 years from the waist up : tales of a TV news anchor / Richard Morecroft". Catalogue. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
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