Roger Cook, the celebrated investigative journalist best known for hosting ITV's current affairs program The Cook Report, has died at the age of 83 following a brief illness.
A Career of Investigative Excellence
The Cook Report aired for 16 series from July 1987 to August 1999, during which Cook exposed criminal activities and government policy failures. The program earned him a Bafta award for '25 years of outstanding quality investigative reporting'.
In a statement, his family said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Roger Cook, who died peacefully on Saturday after a short illness. Alongside a distinguished and award-winning career in journalism, Roger was first and foremost a beloved husband and father. He will be deeply missed by all of us, and we ask for privacy as we navigate this difficult loss.'
ITV Pays Tribute
ITV released a statement honoring Cook's legacy: 'In a career spanning an incredible five decades, Roger Cook's ground-breaking approach to investigative journalism made him one of broadcasting's most trusted and respected figures. On his eponymous current affairs programme, The Cook Report, Roger worked tirelessly to expose criminal wrongdoing and injustice, helping to drive important and lasting changes in the law. His fearless contribution to journalism will long be remembered.'
Early Career and Challenges
Cook began his journalism career at the Australian Broadcasting Company before joining the BBC in 1968, working across radio and television. In 1973, he moved to Radio 4's Checkpoint, a program that specialized in uncovering criminals and injustice. This work earned him enemies, including a 1979 threat from music mogul Don Arden after investigating his business practices. Two years later, Cook was assaulted by an antique dealer, resulting in three cracked ribs, an attack caught on camera for Newsnight. 'Mr Harris invited me to step outside and talk things through, but his means of communication proved to be a metal bar,' Cook recalled.
After moving to Central (later ITV) and launching The Cook Report, he became known as the 'most beaten up journalist in Britain.' The show was cancelled in 1999 during an ITV shake-up but returned for a one-off 20th anniversary special in 2007.
Cook is survived by his wife and family, who have requested privacy during this difficult time.
