You might remember Sir David from the film
Frost/Nixon, when he was played by Michael Sheen, but he also played himself in
a number of TV shows over 5 decades, ranging from the serious stuff like his
interviews with Richard Nixon (the Nixon in Frost/Nixon obviously, who's also
dead) through his topical morning show Breakfast with Frost which ran for 12
years, right the way back to his work as a comedy writer in the 70's and 80's.
His show, The Frost Report, was responsible
for launching the TV careers of John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett
among others, and among his writing staff were two of The Goodies (ask your
Dad) as well as more future Pythons with Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Graham
Chapman. He's basically responsible for anything that was funny in the 70's, in
one way or another.
As well as interviewing Nixon, Sir David
spoke with celebrities, politicians and royals, and had a combative back and
forth with Margaret Thatcher about the Falklands conflict. Later in his life
his hosted Through the Keyhole, a kind of twee British "Cribs" if you
like, with chef and sauce-peddler Loyd Grossman.
He was awarded an OBE in 1970 and became a
Knight in 1993 for his services to broadcasting.
A statement released this morning said:
"His family are devastated and ask for privacy at this difficult time. A
family funeral will be held in the near future and details of a memorial
service will be announced in due course."
