Roger Climpson
Roger Climpson | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 18, 1931 Peterborough, England |
| Occupation(s) | Media figure, newsreader, television presenter, radio host |
| Years active | 1950s–2015 |
| Known for | News presenting on Nine Network and Seven Network; hosting This Is Your Life and Australia's Most Wanted |
Roger Climpson (born 18 October 1931) is a retired Australian media figure originally from England, whose extensive career spanned radio and television journalism, news reading, weather presenting, and hosting duties. He started out as a radio performer before moving into theatre and television, eventually focusing on Christian broadcasting following his mainstream media tenure.
Climpson is widely recognized for his news presenting work on the Nine Network and Seven Network throughout the 1980s and 1990s, as well as for hosting programs such as the Australian adaptation of This Is Your Life and the crime investigation series Australia's Most Wanted.
Early life
Born in Peterborough, England, Climpson initially planned to join the Royal Air Force but changed direction after suffering a lung injury at age 14, turning instead to acting. He relocated to Australia in 1949 and met Claire, who would become his wife, in 1952.
Radio and theatre career
In the early phase of his career, Climpson appeared in numerous radio dramas including Caltex theatre, The General Motors Hour, among others, as well as participating in theatrical productions for the ABC.
Television
With the launch of Australian television in 1956, Climpson began working at Channel Nine where he served as announcer, weather presenter, and newsreader. His appointment came through Brian Henderson’s recommendation to Bruce Gyngell, then head of the network. While at Nine, he hosted shows such as Rendezvous with Roger and The House and Garden Show. He departed in 1965 after being refused a minor salary increase by chairman Sir Frank Packer.
After a short return to acting—including performing in the play The Big Killing—and a period working at his father’s butcher shop, Climpson accepted a temporary newsreading position at Channel Seven, where he remained for fifteen years. In 1977, he took over Sydney’s 2GB afternoon program and began hosting This Is Your Life, returning to newsreading duties in 1978.
He stepped away from television in 1982 but made a comeback in 1989 as anchor of Sydney's Seven News. Following a prostate cancer diagnosis in 1994, he retired temporarily; Ann Sanders replaced him in 1995. Climpson hosted Australia's Most Wanted from 1997 until his final retirement from TV in 1998, though he briefly returned for a documentary in 2015.
Christian radio
Between 1995 and 2004, Climpson played an active role in Christian radio broadcasting, serving as chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Association Ltd., which holds the license for Sydney's Christian station Hope 103.2.
Honours
On Australia Day in 2004, Climpson was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Radio acting and broadcasting
| Title |
| Caltex Theatre |
| The General Motors Hour |
| When a Girl Marries |
| Portia Faces Life |
| Life Can Be Beautiful |
| 2GB Afternoon Shift (1977) |
| Host and chairman at Hope 103.2 (1995–2004) |
Filmography (television)
Selected appearances
| Title | Year | Notes |
| Rope (TV movie) | 1957 | Role: Mr Blackface |
| Rendezvous with Roger Climpson (TV series) | 1959 | As himself |
| Teenage Mailbag | 1960 | Host |
| The Year in Review (TV movie documentary) | 1961 | Host |
| The Splendour and the Peaks (documentary short) | 1962 | Voice narrator |
| The Story of Port Augusta (documentary) | 1963 | Narrator and commentator |
| The City of Adelaide (documentary) | 1965 | Voice commentator |
| The Big Killing (TV movie) | 1965 | Portrayed Peter Ashbury |
| Twelve Night (TV movie) | 1966 | Role: Orsino |
| Homicide (TV series) | 1967 | Played Edwin Blake / Al Taylor |
| Sydney Tonight | 1968–1969 | Host |
| Dangerous Reef (documentary short) | 1969 | Appeared as himself |
| Celebrity Tattle Tales | 1980 | As himself |
| This is Your Life (TV series) | 1975–1980 | Host |
| Australia's Most Wanted (TV series) | 1998 | Host |
| Australia the Story Of Us (TV series documentary) | 2015 | Host |
Newsreader
| Program Title | Years Active | Broadcasting Network |
|---|---|---|
| Nine News (news anchor, announcer, meteorologist) | 1957–1965 | Nine Network |
| Seven News chief news presenter | 1965–1980 | Seven Network |
| Seven Nightly News (5:00 pm edition) | 1989–1994 | Seven Network |