Alistair Cooke, KBE (born Alfred Cooke on 20 November 1908, died 30 March 2004), was a British-American journalist, author, and broadcaster whose career flourished mainly in the United States. He became best known for Letter from America and America: A Personal History of the United States, and for presenting PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre from 1971 to 1992. His calm, intelligent delivery and distinctive voice made him one of the most recognisable broadcasters of his time. Even after retiring from television following more than four decades in broadcasting, he continued recording Letter from America until shortly before his death.
Cooke was born in Salford, Lancashire, to Mary Elizabeth (née Byrne) and Samuel Cooke, a metalsmith and Methodist lay preacher. In 1917, the family moved to 10 Vance Road, Blackpool, where he spent much of his childhood. He attended Blackpool Grammar School, where his academic ability and love of literature were quickly noticed. His achievements earned him a scholarship to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he read English and graduated with honours. At Cambridge, Cooke immersed himself in literature, journalism and theatre. He became editor of Granta and founded the university’s first mixed-gender theatre group, the Mummers. His early interest in writing and the performing arts foreshadowed the career that would later bring him international recognition. In 1930, at the age of 22, he changed his name from Alfred to Alistair.
From his early days in Blackpool to his rise as a global voice of culture and communication, Cooke’s career reflected both the depth of his intellect and the clarity of his storytelling, shaped by his Lancashire upbringing and his lifelong fascination with people and ideas.
Alistair Cooke in interview 18 March 1974
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