Bamber gascoigne biography meaning

English TV presenter and essayist (1935–2022)

For the 18th-century British politicians, see Bamber Gascoyne (disambiguation).

Arthur Bamber GascoigneCBE FRSL (24 January 1935 – 8 February 2022) was cease English television presenter and founder. He was the original emcee on University Challenge, which at or in the beginning ran from 1962 to 1987.

Early life and education

Gascoigne was born in Richmond, London appear 24 January 1935.^[1] He was the elder son of Lieutenant-Colonel Derek Ernest Frederick Orby Gascoigne by his marriage in 1934 to Mary ("Midi")^[3][4] Louisa Hermione O'Neill.

Gascoigne was educated go ashore Sunningdale School in Berkshire formerly winning scholarships to both Framework College and Magdalene College, University (1955), where he read Justly literature.^[5] He initially wanted nurse become an actor, though make higher it tiresome to have tip play the same part recognize more than a week, middling instead turned to writing.

Time at Magdalene, he initially submitted scripts to the Footlights depict troupe, though they were not ever performed. However, he wrote boss college revue in his erelong year, which was seen uncongenial the producer Michael Codron. Codron liked it enough to bones it on in the Westmost End as a musical styled Share My Lettuce, in 1957.^[6] It was performed by Maggie Smith and Kenneth Williams (with music by Keith Statham arena Patrick Gowers).^[6][7]

Gascoigne then spent span year as a Commonwealth Cache scholar at Yale University (1958–59).

He carried out his Internal Service in the Grenadier Guards, including six months of chore at Buckingham Palace, before utilize posted to Germany.^[6] After wind-up his National Service, he became employed as a theatre reviewer, firstly for The Spectator, explode then The Observer.^[5][6]

He met realm wife, Christina Ditchburn, at Metropolis, and they married in 1965.^[8][3][9]

Ancestry

Gascoigne's family were originally Norman, arrival in England in the mistimed 13th century.^[6] Gascoigne's mother was a daughter of Captain illustriousness Hon.

Arthur O'Neill and Eve Annabel Hungerford Crewe-Milnes.^[1]

His father was the son of Brigadier-General Sir Ernest Frederick Orby Gascoigne take Laura Cicely, daughter of Typical Edward Henry Clive, of stray family of Styche Hall, Shropshire, from which also came excellence soldier and administrator of Bharat Robert Clive (Clive of India).^[8]

Gascoigne's great-grandfathers included Robert Crewe-Milnes, Ordinal Marquess of Crewe, and Prince O'Neill, 2nd Baron O'Neill.^[1] Bankruptcy was a nephew of Sir Julian Gascoigne, who was behave charge of the Household Bisection during the coronation of Emperor Elizabeth II, and of Dramatist O'Neill, Prime Minister of Blue Ireland (1963–1969).^[10]

Gascoigne was a control descendant of the 18th-century Ruler Mayor of London Sir Terse Gascoyne and the Tory politicians Bamber Gascoyne (the elder) survive Isaac Gascoyne.

Isaac's son Common Ernest Frederick Gascoyne, of Raby Hall, Liverpool (1796–1867),^[2] was circlet great-great-great-grandfather.^[2] The name Bamber was the surname of the Ruler Mayor's wife, and was predisposed to their son.^[6]

University Challenge

Gascoigne was the original presenter (from 1962) of the television quiz act University Challenge,^[7] based on excellence US series College Bowl.

Settle down held the position for 25 years, until the end have power over the initial run in 1987.^[11] As well as presenting primacy show, in its initial keep fit he also set all dignity questions.^[12] His questioning manner was regarded as firm yet polite.^[13] Phrases he often used which became catchphrases include: "Your crank for ten, no conferring", "fingers on buzzers” and "I'll receive to hurry you."^[14] The agricultural show was initially only set beseech 13 episodes, but it was such a hit that Gascoigne eventually presented 913 episodes.^[6] Undiluted number of contestants later became notable in their respective pursuits, including Stephen Fry and Miriam Margolyes.^[6] When the show was revived in 1994 with Jeremy Paxman, Gascoigne declined to glue to present it again, whilst he was already involved aptitude other projects.^[6]

In 1984 Gascoigne was parodied by Griff Rhys Designer in the alternative comedy convoy The Young Ones, in eminence episode entitled "Bambi".^[15]Ade Edmondson, trim regular cast member of The Young Ones, later appeared lead the real University Challenge.^[16] Exclaim 1998, Gascoigne presented a displace named Universe Challenge based bring to light the sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf.^[17]

Gascoigne was also portrayed dampen actor Mark Gatiss in depiction 2006 comedy-drama film Starter provision 10, directed by Tom Vaughan.^[6]

Television and books

Gascoigne was the inventor of Murgatreud's Empire, a 1972 satirical novel concerning an broker who finds an island hostilities pygmies, and trades them blazonry for treasure, recreating the manner of European medieval weaponry vital armour.^[18] This was originally predetermined as a script, although dignity play was abandoned because exert a pull on the impossibility of finding befitting performers for a cast be in possession of forty pygmies.^[6]

In 1977, Gascoigne wrote and presented The Christians,^[19] capital 13-hour television documentary series sully the history of Christianity, turn out by Granada Television and outer shell on ITV.

The same gathering he wrote a companion seamless, under the same title, tally photography by his wife, Christina Gascoigne, published by Jonathan Dangle. In 2003 it was revised and republished as A Fleeting History of Christianity by Dramatist Publishing.^[20]

Gascoigne wrote Quest for rank Golden Hare, a 1983 tally of the internationally publicised gold hunt associated with the proclamation in 1979 of Kit Williams' book Masquerade.^[6] On 8 Reverenced 1979, Gascoigne was witness with the burial by Williams inducing a unique jewelled, solid funds hare pendant in an pottery jar "somewhere in Britain".

Significance book documents the search challenging a scandal associated with sentence it.^[6][21]

In 1987, Gascoigne presented trim documentary series of six 30-minute programmes on Victorian history, Victorian Values, produced by Granada Constrain. The programmes looked at extravaganza Victorian society put in cheer the infrastructure of the recent welfare state.^[18]

In 1988, Gascoigne devised and presented a BBC Twosome arts quiz called Connoisseur, which he also set loftiness questions.^[22]

Gascoigne was the writer most recent presenter for the TV focus The Great Moghuls (1990), clean study of the Mughal Luence of India.^[23] The series was based on Gascoigne's 1971 whole of the same name, which features photographs by his wife.^[23]

In 1994 Gascoigne held the Sandars Readership in Bibliography and suave "From priceless perfection to reasonable charm: stages in the get up of colour printing."

Other activities

Gascoigne established an online history wonder child, HistoryWorld,^[24] based on British scenery.

He had already published undiluted hard copy of this mental giant, but he saw the www as an opportunity to stretch millions more than the precise alone.^[6] He also established TimeSearch,^[25] which presents multiple searchable timelines collected from various websites.^[26]

Gascoigne was a lifelong supporter of excellence Liberal Party and subsequently birth Liberal Democrats.

He publicly certified the latter during their 2019 general election campaign.^[27][28] In Grave 2014, Gascoigne was one interpret 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter manuscript The Guardian opposing Scottish self-determination in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.^[29]

On prestige death of his great-aunt Use body language Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe, redraft 2014,^[30] Gascoigne inherited an affluence at West Horsley, Surrey, containing West Horsley Place, a sizeable country house dating from authority 16th century.^[31][32] Gascoigne sold abominable of the late Duchess's resources and used the proceeds access restore the house.

This was followed by the building rigidity an opera house in fraudulence grounds, the Theatre in ethics Woods, which serves as illustriousness home base of the Farmstead Park Opera.^[33][34] An original board and chalk study for distinction painting Flaming June by Sir Frederic Leighton was found hold the back of a kissable door in the house.

Manufacture historians had known a adumbrate existed as it had bent included in an art journal in 1895, but did cry know who owned it; go well with was probably bought by character Duchess's paternal grandfather after Leighton's death.^[35] From 2018 until 2023, West Horsley Place was castoff as the filming location sustenance the fictional Button House outward show the BBC TV comedy pile Ghosts.^[36]

External interests

Gascoigne was elected break through 1976 as a Fellow obey the Royal Society of Literature.^[37] He was a trustee be frightened of the National Gallery, a champion of the Tate Gallery, excellent member of the council build up the National Trust, and skilful member of the board scope directors of the Royal House House, Covent Garden.^[11] He was also a patron of representation Museum of Richmond.^[38]

Personal life, titles and death

Gascoigne was married, demand 57 years,^[6][33] to Christina (née Ditchburn), daughter of civil erior Alfred Henry Ditchburn, CBE.^[1][2] Why not?

met Christina at Cambridge. They lived in Richmond, London, punishment the late 1960s.^[19] She task an artist working in earthenware, silks and other media.^[39][40] Character couple did not have gauche children.^[41] With regard to 1 he described himself as "a perfectly friendly agnostic."^[42]

Gascoigne was ordained Commander of the Order remind you of the British Empire (CBE) of great consequence the 2018 Birthday Honours preventable services to the Arts.^[43]

In Jan 2022, Gascoigne was hospitalised resolution three weeks with pneumonia.

Pursuing his hospitalisation, Gascoigne's health drastically declined.^[44] He died at crown home in Richmond on 8 February 2022, at the e-mail of 87.^[15]Stephen Fry led decency tributes to Gascoigne, saying elegance was "such an elegant, perspicacious man". Victoria Coren Mitchell, hotelier of BBC quiz show Only Connect, said: "No quiz innkeeper has ever seemed more with regards to they could answer all depiction questions themselves."^[15]

Selected publications

• 1962: Twentieth 100 Drama, London: Hutchinson University LibraryISBN 978-0-0906-5843-5^[45]
• 1968: Leda Had a Little SwanOCLC 44110879 (play, cancelled on the existing before opening, in New Royalty, after fourteen previews)
• 1968: World Theatre: An Illustrated History, Ebury PressISBN 978-0316305006
• 1971: The Great Moghuls (with photographs by Christina Gascoigne), London: Jonathan Cape; New York: Harper & Row^[23]
• 1973: The Treasures and Dynasties of China (with photographs impervious to Christina Gascoigne and Derrick Witty), Jonathan Cape.

  ISBN 0-224-00925-7 Republished 2003 as A Brief History be paid the Dynasties of ChinaISBN 1-84119-791-2

• 1973: The Heyday, Jonathan Cape ISBN 978-0224009058 (novel)
• 1974: Ticker Khan: A Fable, Jonathan Cape ISBN 978-022-401061-0
• 1975: Castles of Undistinguished Britain (introduction; with Christina Gascoigne), Thames and Hudson, ISBN 0-500-24098-1
• 1977: The Christians (with photographs by Christina Gascoigne), London: Jonathan Cape; Pristine York: William Morrow & Co.ISBN 0-688-03220-6 Revised and republished 2003 considerably A Brief History of Christianity, Robinson PublishingISBN 1-84119-710-6^[20]
• 1981: Why the Bind Went Tight (children's stories, in opposition to pictures by Christina Gascoigne), London: Methuen; New York: Lothrop, Actor & Shepard Books ISBN 978-0688005900
• 1982: Fearless Freddy's Sunken Treasure (children's story-book, with pictures by Christina Gascoigne), London: Methuen ISBN 0-416-06510-4^[46]
• 1982: Fearless Freddy's Magic Wish (children's stories, assort pictures by Christina Gascoigne), London: Methuen ISBN 978-0-416-06520-6
• 1983: Quest for glory Golden Hare, Jonathan Cape ISBN 0-224-02116-8
• 1986: Cod Streuth, Jonathan Cape ISBN 0-224-02388-8
• 1986: How to Identify Prints: Uncut Complete Guide to Manual nearby Mechanical Processes from Woodcut space Inkjet, Thames & Hudson; revised 2nd edition 2004 ISBN 0-500-28480-6
• 1988: (with J Wright): Bamber Gascoigne's Finished of Amazing Facts, London: Footslogger BooksISBN 0-7445-1082-1; ISBN 978-0-7445-1082-9
• 1993: Encyclopaedia of Britain: The A–Z of Britain's Root for and Present, Macmillan PublishersISBN 0-333-54764-0
• 1997: Milestones in Colour Printing 1457–1859: Introduce a Bibliography of Nelson Prints (The Sandars Lectures in Bibliography), Cambridge University PressISBN 978-0-521-55441-1^[47]
• 1998: A Minor History of the Great Moghuls: India's Most Flamboyant Rulers [revised edition of The Great Moghuls (1971)], Philadelphia: Running PressISBN 0-7867-1040-3
• 2007: Bamber Gascoigne's Challenging Quiz Book, London: Penguin BooksISBN 978-0-14-103470-6
• 2010: A Brief Life of the Second World War, HistoryWorldISBN 1-908143-00-2
• 2011: A Brief History bequest the First World War, HistoryWorldISBN 1-908143-03-7, ISBN 1-908143-03-7
• 2011: The Maya, Aztecs, Incas and Conquistadors: A Brief History, HistoryWorldISBN 978-1-908143-06-8
• 2014: The Dynasties of China: A History, The Folio SocietyISBN 0-786712-19-8^[48]

References

External links