From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clifford Arthur Michelmore CBE (born 11 December 1919 in Cowes, Isle of Wight) is a British television presenter and producer. He is best known for the BBC television programme Tonight, which he presented from 1957 to 1965.

Notably, he also hosted the BBC's television coverage of the Apollo moon landings and the 1964, 1966 and 1970 UK general elections. He was awarded the CBE in 1969.

Michelmore attended Cowes High School, Loughborough College and Leicester College of Technology and Art. He was an RAF Squadron Leader during World War II, and began his broadcasting career on British Forces Network radio. After the war, he worked for BBC radio and television on a freelance basis; initially as a sports commentator, then as a news reporter and as a producer of children's programmes.

On 4 March 1950, he married his British Forces Network colleague Jean Metcalfe. They went on to have a daughter, actress Jenny Michelmore, and a son, broadcaster and composer Guy Michelmore.

From 1955 to 1957 Michelmore presented the BBC TV programme Highlight, a current affairs show with a reputation for hard-hitting interviews. On 18 February 1957 he was made anchorman of BBC TV's new topical magazine show Tonight, which was broadcast on weekday evenings at 6.05pm. Tonight ran for 8 years and at its peak attracted an audience of 8 million viewers. In 1958 Michelmore was awarded the accolade of Television Personality of the Year by the Guild of Television Producers.

When Tonight finished its run in 1965, Michelmore hosted a BBC One series called 24 Hours, which ran until 1968. In 1967 he presented Our World, an ambitious worldwide TV broadcast featuring The Beatles. At this point he left full-time work in television and headed EMIs nascent video division. He was a regular presenter on BBC One's Holiday programme from 1969 to 1986, and has presented numerous other shows for BBC TV, ITV, and BBC Radio.

Michelmore has now retired from TV presenting and resides in Hampshire.