DAVID DUNSEITH, BBC Radio Ulster's popular and influential broadcaster, has bowed out after 20 years of presenting the Talkbackmidday current affairs programme.
Dunseith, a consummate professional to the last, was typically self-deprecating and generous with the several callers who phoned to offer him their best wishes yesterday. "The BBC has decided my stint on Talkbackis over and I will be moving on," he said at the start of the programme when thanking listeners for their years of support.
Dunseith, who next month will take over the Seven Daysprogramme which runs on Sundays on BBC Radio Ulster, has been properly described as an important "civilising influence" during some of Northern Ireland's most turbulent years.
His programme was a weathervane of the generally contending opinions in the North. He managed to be stimulating yet calm and constructive as he moderated public and political debate at difficult times, such as the regular paramilitary atrocities, the controversial killings by British soldiers or the RUC, and the contentious parades such as those at Drumcree near Portadown, Co Armagh.
Talkback will be taken over by another veteran presenter, Wendy Austin. The move is part of a musical chairs movement of some of the BBC's main presenters also affecting news programmes such as Good Morning Ulster, the drivetime Evening Extra, and Seven Days.