William Hardcastle (26 March 1918 – 10 November 1975) was a British journalist,editor of theDaily Mail and first presenter of the lunchtime news programmeThe World at One onBBC Radio.
Hardcastle was born inNewcastle upon Tyne, and educated at the Newcastle Preparatory School andDurham School.[1][2] His early intention to follow his father into the medical profession was thwarted when he contractedosteomyelitis as a fifteen-year-old, and in 1938 he joined theShields Gazette as areporter.[1]
Unfit for active service, Hardcastle remained a journalist throughout theSecond World War, moving in turn to theSheffield Telegraph, the London bureau ofKemsley Newspapers andReuters. In 1944 he became Reuters' correspondent at Supreme Allied Headquarters, followed by postings to New York and Washington.[3]
In 1959 Hardcastle was appointed editor of theSunday Dispatch, and after two months in that job was moved to become editor of theDaily Mail until 1963,[1] covering the period when it absorbed theNews Chronicle.[1] He then moved into broadcasting. On 4 October 1965, he became the launch presenter ofThe World at One on theBBC Home Service and thenBBC Radio 4.[4][1]
He retained this role until his death in 1975, and from 1970 hosted thePM programme, as well.[5] His daughter,Sally Hardcastle (1945–2014), was also a broadcast journalist.
William (Bill) Hardcastle's education at Durham School was cut short when, aged sixteen, he contracted osteomyelitis, and was in and out of hospital for the next four years.
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| Preceded by | Editor of theDaily Mail 1959–1963 | Succeeded by |
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