Peter Sissons dies - a BBC news reading tour de force.

Peter Sissons dies- a BBC news reading tour de force.

Peter Sissons, who today died at the age of 77, has left a gaping hole in the lives of those who trusted the voice of the BBC. For what seemed an eternity, Sissons was the ultimate gentleman, an appropriately serious newsreader, grave when the occasion wholly merited it and then marvellously authoritative at all times.

The Liverpool born broadcaster was always the epitome of professionalism and immaculately briefed on all the breaking news stories which frequently arrived on his early and late evening shift with the BBC. But there was an earnestness and sincerity about the man that was simply unmistakable. You would tune into Sissons because you knew he would convey that smooth assurance behind the news desk that would never desert him. He was unflappable, suave, never flustered and always immediately apologetic if things were going wrong around him.

For most of us now news is now an unstoppably wall to wall, 24-7 service that never lets up at any time in case we miss anything at all. From the lofty and immensely traditional BBC to the more commercial influence of both ITV, Channel 4 and 5, to Sky in all its manifestations, rolling news has come to figure prominently in all of our waking lives - from dawn to dusk and through the night.

Sissons though reminds us of the news from news casters from another age. Most of us will always identify with the news broadcasting legends from the late 1960s and 70s. We couldn't quite remember the genteel and eternally elegant age of Michael Aspel but we do recall those sartorially correct men who made it all possible in later years. Aspel was the one who wore beautifully fitted dinner jackets, crisp white shirts, formal bow ties and equally as smart ties, speaking commandingly and clearly into a huge BBC microphone and then shuffling his papers onto the desk as if it was something that came quite naturally to him.

There was the always stern but utterly polished Kenneth Kendall, a man who delivered the news with impeccable poise, perfect timing and all of the vowels and consonants in the right place at the right time. Kendall was the man summoned most unfortunately to read the first BBC news bulletin about the heartbreaking tragedy of the Munich air crash in 1958 where almost the whole of Sir Matt Busby's Busby Babes and the Manchester United golden generation lost their lives.

Kendall of course would often be joined on screen with Richard Baker who has also sadly passed away recently. Baker was one of those classical BBC voices whose beautifully measured words and sentences would float across Britain and the world like one of those upright swans. For seemingly ages Baker was also the consummate presenter of the Last Night of the Proms.

In the middle of the 1970s there was Robert Dougall, a friendly, avuncular, pleasant and likeable man who smiled comfortingly if the news became light hearted which was indeed rare. There was a jolly joviality and easy going dependability about Dougall that warmed and made you feel good about life.  Dougall, rather like Baker and Kendall, was debonair, dapper and always presentable. For a while we had the estimable Peter Woods and Richard Whitmore who were always clean cut and respectable.

Then there was Peter Sissons, foreign correspondent, a man out on the fighting fields of the world, braving the elements, dodging the bullets and bombs intrepidly and then returning home to family and children. He would then become one of the most outstanding newsreaders for many a decade, deeply informative, witty and humorous at times but unfailingly precise.

When Sissons left the BBC news room it must have been widely assumed that he would either completely forgotten or just fade into the obscurity of the BBC's extensive news archives, the man who used to read the news to the nation. But oh no, Sissons was far from finished. The BBC's flagship political programme Question Time needed somebody to replace the unique Robin Day, another member of the bow tie brigade, Sissons was the man to take over from Day.

For what seemed a considerable length of time, Sissons chaired and apparently refereed Question Time with those tellingly spicy interventions. At the time Sissons would fend off the notable likes of every member of Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet. Sissons was always in sparkling form when it came to arguing, questioning and fiercely interrogating Cecil Parkinson, Kenneth Baker, Michael Heseltine and Norman Tebbitt. He would cut down to size with admirable severity all of those pompous politicians who thought they knew everything there was to know.

Sadly though Sissons would then hand over the reins to David Dimbleby, another broadcasting giant with  a wonderful line in cutting sarcasm and facetiousness that brought a smile to everybody's face. Dimbleby snarled and sneered gorgeously, constantly taking his Question Time guests to task for a question they were allegedly ignoring or prevaricating over.

But Peter Sissons was the gentle and well mannered face of the BBC, courtesy personified, the embodiment of politeness and, although occasionally gossipy, always  challenging the people who mattered with a sharp but harmless barb. But essentially Sissons was a family man of principle and honour. Such qualities are easily overlooked and in the current news agenda you feel sure we'll miss Sissons raw honesty. It's safe to say that he will never be forgotten.