Clive Robertson (broadcaster)

Clive Robertson
Born	(1945-12-28) 28 December 1945 Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia
Died	1 December 2024(2024-12-01) (aged 78)
Occupation(s)	Broadcaster, radio presenter, television presenter
Years active	1967–2024
Known for	Extensive presence on AM and FM radio; hosting Beauty and the Beast; Newsworld; Robbo's World Tonight; ABC Classic FM morning program

Clive Alexander Robertson (28 December 1945 – 1 December 2024) was a prominent Australian broadcaster based in Sydney, recognized for his extensive presence on both AM and FM radio over a span exceeding four decades.

Early life

Robertson was born in Katoomba, New South Wales in 1945. Leaving school at the age of 16, he initially worked on a farm before pursuing various occupations, including an apprenticeship in electrical work and employment with the railways. These experiences cultivated a lasting fascination with steam locomotives.

Career

His entry into broadcasting began in 1967 amid the emergence of talk radio, starting at stations located in southwestern Western Australia. By 1972, Robertson had joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Sydney, contributing to radio station 2BL. He subsequently moved to Canberra, where he worked on stations 2CY and 2CN. During this period, he gained recognition for his breakfast show conversations alongside broadcasters such as Caroline Jones and Margaret Throsby. Additionally, he presented ABC’s evening news at 7 pm.

In 1980, Robertson had a brief tenure at 2DAY-FM before returning to the ABC. Between 1982 and 1988, he hosted the Beauty and the Beast program on Network Ten. After departing ABC radio, he transitioned to the Seven Network, where he anchored 11AM and later Newsworld in 1985. His approach on Newsworld, which continued with Nine Network’s Robbo's World Tonight, was characterized by a unique style that involved openly questioning the significance of news stories to engage viewers—a tactic that elicited both praise and criticism within journalistic communities.

Throughout his career, Robertson also appeared on various stations including 6VA, 6TZ, 6IX, 2UE, 2GB, 2SM, and ABC Classic FM, alongside television roles at STW-9 and Network Ten. In 2006, he returned to national television through ABC’s Agony Aunts. That same year, he temporarily replaced Stan Zemanek during the evening shift on 2UE before moving to overnight programming. Due to difficulties with scheduling, he left 2UE in March 2008 but later resumed hosting weekend afternoon slots and eventually helmed the Nights show from 8 pm to midnight.

On-air personality

Robertson was distinguished by his sharp wit, playful exchanges with talk-back callers, and candid manner. He asserted that Perth’s radio station 6IX dismissed him because he refused to promote the slogan "Have a happy day."

In one instance during his late-night television news segment, he humorously presented the weather report by placing the word "pooey" next to "Brisbane."

While hosting ABC Classic FM’s morning program, he occasionally engaged in light-hearted dialogues with producer Ivan Lloyd, who curated the daily musical selections. Despite lacking formal classical music training, Robertson demonstrated evident enthusiasm for genres such as string quartets. He frequently recounted personal stories, including naming his lawn mower "Lorna" (sometimes pronounced "Lawner"), clarifying it was not to be confused with "Lorna," who managed ABC’s music library.

Personal life and death

Robertson experienced two marriages; his second spouse was actress Penny Cook. Both unions ended in divorce.

He passed away at age 78 on 1 December 2024 following a battle with cancer. The announcement of his death was made public on 12 December.