Derek Davis

Derek Davis

13/05/2015: The death has occurred of broadcaster and writer Derek Davis. Mr Davis was formerly a newsreader, reporter and presenter on RT radio and television.

Noel Curran, Director-General, RT , said: Derek Davis was a hugely popular man, both with audiences and with his colleagues in RT . He was one of the first presenters I worked with as a television director and he was always generous with his time and advice, then and after. He was full of humour and warmth and was one of the most versatile presenters RT has seen. But at heart he was always a journalist, and he brought that inquisitive sense of journalism to everything he did. From Live at Three to the Rose of Tralee, from Liveline to regional reports on the 2007 General Election for Drivetime, Derek Davis's popular approach was always rooted in that strong journalism, which had marked his earlier years as a reporter and newsreader. He will be fondly remembered as part of the first two-hander news presentations with Anne Doyle, as well as his long-lasting pairing with Thelma Mansfield, just two of the many highlights in a long and distinguished career. I would like to extend my sincere sympathies to Derek's wife, his three sons, his extended family, and former colleagues.

Derek Davis was raised in Bangor, Co. Down. He went to boarding school in Antrim. During his childhood in Bangor he acquired his love of boats and angling, which later provided the inspiration for a number of RT One television series.

Davis started as a news reporter with the American network ABC, and then BBC Northern Ireland, before spending 11 years in the newsroom in RT . He pioneered the two-handed news bulletin with Anne Doyle, presenting it for three years. Davis presented the Rose of Tralee on two occasions.

From 1986 Davis co-hosted RT One's Live at Three with Thelma Mansfield, which ran for 11 years. In addition to this he had an interactive summer show, simply called Davis, and was a popular team captain with colleagues Ronan Collins and Twink on the charades game show Play the Game. Davis returned to the screen in the late 1990s with a marine programme devoted to boats and the waters around Ireland, called Out of the Blue, which ran for four series, the last of which was broadcast in 2001. His latest appearance on television was in 2005 on a show called Time on Their Hands, a travel series for middle-aged people.

Davis won two Jacob s Awards for his television work and a dozen other local and industry awards. In 1984, he received his first award for the series The Season That s In It. He won his second award in 1991 for his Live at Three Special Programme on the 1916 Uprising.

In 2000, Davis presented a radio show called A Question of Food. In recent years he deputised on the mid-morning slot on RT Radio 1 as well as on Liveline, when regular presenter Joe Duffy was away. He also wrote a collection of radio columns called And That Was Derek Davis.

LINK:	http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/2015/0513/700820-derek-davis/...
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