Stuart Prebble, the mastermind behind the BBC series Grumpy Old Men and former ITV chief executive, has passed away at the age of 74 on Thursday (August 21).
His family announced the heartbreaking news, disclosing that pancreatic cancer was the cause of death. This saddening news follows a string of other ITV star’s deaths including Coronation Street star Ray Brooks and fellow former Cobbles actor Tony Peers.
Broadcaster Michael Crick hailed him as “one of the most distinguished TV journalists of modern times,” leading the flood of tributes on X – formerly known as Twitter.
“A really talented, inspiring and creative TV executive, who was able to navigate very tricky fast changing times. Sad news,” another person wrote.
A third added: “One of Britain’s best TV journalists, editors, investigators and original minds: fabulous sense of humour has died. RIP Stuart Prebble: Editor of ‘World in Action’ and creator of ‘Grumpy Old Men’ and @sky ‘Landscape Artist’.”
(Image: Getty Images)
A fourth wrote: “At Newcastle Uni he lead the weekly debate on Saturday evenings in the debating chamber at the students’ union. No topic was too daft, too serious or too controversial. He was a superb public speaker who could think on his feet. RIP.”
One of his earliest major exclusives famously emerged whilst he was still studying at university in 1972. Paul McCartney and his fresh band Wings were performing a string of surprise concerts at universities across Britain in the star’s debut post-Beatles performances, reports the Express.
They arrived in Newcastle and met Stuart, who was busy working on the upcoming issue of the student publication The Courier. “I looked in the back of the van and there was Paul McCartney,” Stuart later remembered.
“I told them the Student Union was closed on a Sunday but that they might be able to play in the canteen.”
He organised the arrangements for the performance where 400 students each paid 50 pence to listen to McCartney’s fresh material, providing him with a front-page exclusive.
(Image: Getty Images)
This marked the start of an impressive and lengthy career that would see him balance executive and presenting duties. He stayed with the BBC for five years before transferring to Granada.
He subsequently presented, produced, and edited ITV’s current affairs programme World In Action, “righting wrongs, taking on the establishment and uncovering dodgy dealings of one kind or another,” as he put it.
In 2001, he became chief executive of ITV, though his time in charge was short-lived, concluding following the ITV Digital fiasco, where he also served as CEO. In 2002, he devised one of his most recognisable programme concepts when he asked prominent men to grumble about everything that irritated them about society.
BBC’s Grumpy Old Men saw a host of famous faces, including Jeremy Clarkson, Bob Geldof, John Humphrys, John Peel, Will Self, Tim Rice, Rick Wakeman, and Kelvin MacKenzie, sharing their gripes and grumbles.
The show enjoyed four series and inspired several spin-offs, most notably Grumpy Old Women. This version featured the likes of Ann Widdecombe, Germaine Greer, and Janet Street-Porter, all venting their frustrations about life in the 21st century.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
