THE VETERAN broadcaster and journalist David Dunseith whose career in broadcasting spanned four decades has died, the BBC reported last night.
The award-winning journalist was most closely associated with BBC Radio Ulster's Talkbackprogramme, which he presented for 20 years from 1989 until 2009.
BBC director general Mark Thompson paid tribute to the broadcaster saying he had “served BBC audiences in Northern Ireland with distinction throughout some of the most difficult and contentious years of its history”.
“For 20 years, David provided a safe platform for people to air their views and appreciate the perspectives of others. He did this with tenacity, encyclopaedic knowledge and patience; putting the audience at the heart of his programme and winning loyalty and respect from all sides of the community. He will be greatly missed by all at the BBC,” he said.
Mr Dunseith served as a policeman before embarking on a career change in the 1970s. He began his career in UTV, anchoring the nightly news programme UTV Reports.
He later joined BBC Northern Ireland as a political journalist and analyst, presenting the television current affairs programme Spotlight. He joined Talkbackwhen it went on air in 1986 and in 1989 he became its presenter.
Over the next 20 years he and the programme won several Sony Awards in numerous categories.
The Derry native retired from BBC NI earlier this year ending his career on Radio Ulster presenting Seven Daysfollowing a 40-year career behind the microphone.
Mr Dunseith, who had been unwell for some time, is survived by his three sons, Philip, Benny and Conor. He is predeceased by his wife and fellow journalist Roisin who died after a long battle with motor neurone disease.