Nationwide host Michael Barratt, who fronted the current affairs show for almost a decade, dies aged 94

  • TV presenter was the face of the current affairs programme for almost a decade
  • Barratt also presented Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time from 1973 to 1977
  • Before presenting Nationwide, Barratt was reporter on the BBC's Midlands Today
  • ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly was among those paying tribute last night

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

Michael Barratt, the former host of BBC current affairs show Nationwide, has died at the age of 94.

The TV presenter was the face of the current affairs programme, which would often draw in ten million viewers, for almost a decade.

Barratt, who was born in Leeds in 1928, also kept listeners entertained on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time from 1973 to 1977 and presented Songs of Praise.

After his departure from Nationwide, which was on air until 1983, the show was hosted by names including Esther Rantzen, Valerie Singleton, Sue Lawley and David Dimbleby.

Before presenting Nationwide, Barratt was a reporter on the BBC current affairs programme Midlands Today.

He later went on to front Panorama and 24 Hours.

Michael Barratt (pictured), who was born in Leeds in 1928, was the face of BBC current affairs programme Nationwide, which would often draw in ten million viewers, for almost a decade

Michael Barratt (pictured), who was born in Leeds in 1928, was the face of BBC current affairs programme Nationwide, which would often draw in ten million viewers, for almost a decade

His son Olly announced his death on social media last night.

He said: ‘We’re very sad to report that our lovely dad/husband/Mike/Michael Barratt died this morning.

‘He spent his final days being cared for at the wonderful Thames Hospice in Berkshire, surrounded by his family. A life lived to the full.’

Among those to pay tribute to Barratt, pictured in the 1970s, was broadcaster Simon McCoy. On Twitter he wrote: ‘Such sad news. The nicest of men who was interested in things going on in the world right up until the end’.

ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly called Barratt a ‘class act’ while sharing her condolences on Twitter.

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