Famed Australian journalist and Gold Logie Award winner Michael Charlton has died aged 98.
Known primarily in Australia as the initial host of the Four Corners current affairs program on the ABC in 1961, Charlton subsequently established an illustrious career in the media sector of the United Kingdom.
According to a report by The Telegraph UK, he is reported to have died at his residence on the 24th of August. No additional information has been disclosed yet.
Renowned for his relaxed screen demeanor, polished speech, and incisive questioning method, Charlton was a key figure in reporting significant 20th-century events.
One of Charlton’s standout moments was his on-air commentary from the U.S., immediately after the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy.
Additionally, he led viewers into the heart of Mission Control during the Apollo moon landing of 1969, and reported on the events unfolding in the Vietnam War.
Later on, Charlton gained recognition by having high-profile interviews with global leaders that made front-page news, featuring various international figures as well as a former Nazi.
Born in Sydney in 1927, Charlton began his career as a sports journalist with the ABC in the 1950s.
His highly respected coverage of top-tier cricket earned him a coveted position in the BBC commentary team during the 1956 England vs Australia Test Series.
In November the same year, Charlton hosted the very first broadcast of ABC TV.
In the year 1961, five years after the initial point, Charlton was instrumental in establishing Four Corners, a venture he initiated with ABC executive producer Bob Raymond.
On the current events program, Charlton served as the leader, tackling tough issues that Australian media often ignored, such as exploring poverty and organized crime, as well as delving into these topics.
The unconventional approach taken by the show provoked anger from politicians and left 1960s viewers, who were accustomed to more traditional content, in awe due to its provocative nature.
Charlton left Four Corners for a career in the UK in 1962 and a year later won a Gold Logie.
He then spent 15 years with the BBC’s prestigious investigative news magazine Panorama.
During his tenure on a renowned television show, Charlton had the opportunity to interview Albert Speer – a well-known high-ranking Nazi and confidant of Adolf Hitler – in the year 1971.
Following his departure from Panorama in 1976, Charlton eventually made his way back to Australia to collaborate once more with his former Four Corners companion, Bob Raymond.
The duo produced a seven-episode documentary titled “Out of the Fiery Furnace” on ABC, focusing on the historical and scientific aspects of metalworking.
Widely acclaimed, the popular show, which debuted in 1986, was later sold to 20 territories.
Charlton’s other credits include It’s Your World on the BBC and BBC2’s Newsday.
After stepping away from public affairs, Charlton turned out to be a productive writer, releasing multiple books about history and government, with topics like the Vietnam War and the old Soviet Union among them.
Read More
- Clash Royale Best Boss Bandit Champion decks
- PUBG Mobile or BGMI A16 Royale Pass Leaks: Upcoming skins and rewards
- Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 5 & 6 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Mobile Legends November 2025 Leaks: Upcoming new heroes, skins, events and more
- Deneme Bonusu Veren Siteler – En Gvenilir Bahis Siteleri 2025.4338
- You can’t watch Predator: Badlands on Disney+ yet – but here’s when to expect it
- Zack Snyder’s ‘Sucker Punch’ Finds a New Streaming Home
- Tom Cruise’s Emotional Victory Lap in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
- The John Wick spinoff ‘Ballerina’ slays with style, but its dialogue has two left feet
- There’s A Big Theory Running Around About Joe Alwyn Supporting Taylor Swift Buying Her Masters, And I’m Busting Out The Popcorn
2025-09-03 05:33