Michael Buerk

  • Presenter of BBC current affairs programmes and former 'News At Ten' anchor

Show More Close
Michael Buerk | NMP Live
About

Award-winning journalist Michael Buerk began his career with the Bromsgrove Weekly Messenger in 1967 and joined the BBC in 1970.

His subsequent 20 years as a foreign correspondent took him to over 53 countries and included a four-year posting to South Africa at the height of apartheid, until he was asked to leave the country by the then government because of his uncompromising reporting.

However, Michael Buerk is probably most famous for his reporting of the Ethiopian famine in October 1984 which inspired the Band Aid charity record, and for which he was awarded the Golden Nymph award at the Monte Carlo festival for his reports on the famine from Korem in Ethiopia. Michael later said that the broadcast was one of "the most influential pieces of television ever broadcast prompting a surge of generosity across the world for Ethiopia that raised more than $130 million".

In 1991 he was airlifted out of Addis Ababa after a munitions dump exploded, killing his Kenyan sound recordist, John Mathai, and injuring Mohammed Amin, the cameraman who had accompanied him to Ethiopia in 1984.

By this time, he was turning his hand to presenting, and had become one of the main anchors for the BBC Nine O'Clock News. He also began presenting non-news programmes such as BBC1's 999, and on BBC Radio 4, the ethical debating programme, The Moral Maze, and interview series The Choice.

Michael Buerk has won numerous awards including Radio Broadcaster of the Year, the Royal Television Society's Journalist of the Year and the BAFTA News Award.

He announced his retirement from news presenting at the end of 2002, although he continues presenting other programmes and making one-off films. He lives in Guildford with his wife, Christine and has two grown up sons.

Books and DVDs

Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Michael Buerk. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.

How to book Michael Buerk for your event

To book Michael Buerk, please submit an online enquiry to booking.agent@nmp.co.uk or contact one of our booking agents on +44 (0)20 3822 0003.

Tags for Michael Buerk

You may also be interested in...
Angela Rippon CBE | NMP Live
Angela Rippon CBE

One of the best-known faces and voices in British broadcasting

Sir Martyn Lewis CBE | NMP Live
Sir Martyn Lewis CBE

Author, journalist, presenter and businessman - former BBC and ITN newsreader

Jon Sopel | NMP Live
Jon Sopel

Award-winning journalist and former North America Editor for the BBC

Mary Nightingale | NMP Live
Mary Nightingale

ITN Evening News anchor and journalist

Clive Myrie | NMP Live
Clive Myrie

BBC News presenter and multi-award-winning broadcast journalist

Sam McAlister | NMP Live
Sam McAlister

BAFTA-nominated journalist and former interview producer at BBC2’s Newsnight

You may also be interested in...
Angela Rippon CBE | NMP Live
Angela Rippon CBE

One of the best-known faces and voices in British broadcasting

Sir Martyn Lewis CBE | NMP Live
Sir Martyn Lewis CBE

Author, journalist, presenter and businessman - former BBC and ITN newsreader

Jon Sopel | NMP Live
Jon Sopel

Award-winning journalist and former North America Editor for the BBC

Mary Nightingale | NMP Live
Mary Nightingale

ITN Evening News anchor and journalist

Clive Myrie | NMP Live
Clive Myrie

BBC News presenter and multi-award-winning broadcast journalist

Sam McAlister | NMP Live
Sam McAlister

BAFTA-nominated journalist and former interview producer at BBC2’s Newsnight

you made the whole process of finding and engaging our speaker very easy.
Julie Smith, Head of HR - Hastoe Group
MORE TESTIMONIALS
Bookings and enquiries
Call +44 (0)20 3822 0003 or Email us

Need help and advice? | Want to join our roster?

MAKE AN ENQUIRY