Alistair Cooke - Letter from America

How many broadcasters start hosting a programme aged 38; and continue hosting the same item until they are in their nineties?

Alistair Cooke began his weekly ‘Letter from America’ despatch in 1946 (then called ‘American Letter’) on what was then the BBC Home Service. The series was intended to enjoy a short run, rather than the 2,869 editions it did. It stemmed, ironically, from a reverse of the format: the ‘London Letter’ had been broadcast by a London-based Cooke to American listeners before he emigrated.

Alistair’s calming monologues became a familiar part of the Radio 4 schedule; and the longest-running speech radio programme. His last broadcast was aired on March 2, 2004, at the age of 95; and he died a month later.

Here, enjoy a snippet of a 60s space exploration broadcast; some commentary on his own performances; and his last words on-air. #radio