Russell Harty

Russell Harty was an English television presenter of arts programs and celebrity chat shows. Raised in Blackburn, Lancashire, he studied English literature at Oxford and taught English and drama before joining the BBC in 1967 as a radio producer. He moved into television in 1969, becoming a producer and presenter of London Weekend Television's arts series Aquarius, whose documentaries won awards. In 1972 he started his own interview series, Russell Harty Plus, later retitled Russell Harty, competing with Parkinson and drawing guests such as David Bowie and Alice Cooper. Parts of his 1973 talk with the Who featured in The Who: The Kids Are Alright (1979). He won a Pye Television Award in 1973. Moving to the BBC in 1980, he presented Harty until 1984, then hosted radio shows including Start the Week and, in 1988, the television series Russell Harty's Grand Tour. He also wrote newspaper columns.