Peter White (broadcaster)

Peter White MBE (born 1947, Winchester) is a visually impaired British broadcast journalist and DJ.

Broadcasting career

Blind since birth (as was his elder brother), he attended New College Worcester, which was then known as the Worcester College for the Blind. He was a regular presenter on BBC Radio Solent from the station's launch in 1971 until November 2006, when he was one of several long-serving and well-respected presenters who were sacked in an attempt to improve listener figures.

He currently presents (with others) You and Yours[1] and (since 1974) In Touch (both BBC Radio 4), a programme for blind and partially sighted people, and regularly contributes to other science, news or educational programmes to talk about disabilities. He was the presenter of Channel 4's Same Difference (1987–1989) and Central Television's Link (1989–1991). He was made the BBC's Disability Affairs Correspondent in 1995.[2] He was part of the reporting team for BBC News at the 2008 Beijing games. A column by White for The Guardian 'G2' magazine which appeared on 8 September 2006[3] provoked many positive responses.

Charity work

On 13 March 2009 White participated in Radio 4's Stand Up With The Stars, a competition for Red Nose Day 2009 where well-known, serious presenters from Radio 4 (including Evan Davis, Libby Purves and Laurie Taylor,attempted to make and deliver a stand-up comedy routine, mentored by other well-known comedy presenters on Radio 4.[4] He went on to win after a vote from Radio 4 listeners. Much of his routine focused on his blindness and others' perceptions of blind people.

In February 2011, White took part in a 100 km trek across the Kaisut Desert in North Kenya for Comic Relief to raise awareness of individuals in Africa losing their sight to diseases like glaucoma. However, he failed to complete the challenge, having to pull out due to painful blisters.[5]

Awards and achievements

References

External links

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