Legendary ITV journalist Roger Cook dies at 83

Roger Cook, the award-winning investigative journalist famed for his long-running television series "The Cook Report," died on Saturday at the age of 83 after a short illness. His family announced his passing on Monday, June 15, 2026.

Cook died in a hospital with his wife Frances and daughter Belinda by his side. He had survived cancer twice prior to his recent illness. In a statement, his family described him as a beloved husband and father and asked for privacy.

Born in New Zealand in April 1943 and raised in Australia, Cook began his career as a reporter and newsreader at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He moved to London in 1968 and joined the BBC, working on programs including "The World At One," "PM," "Nationwide," and "Newsnight." He branched into investigative reporting in the 1970s, founding and presenting the Radio 4 show "Checkpoint," which exposed criminals and official wrongdoing.

Cook's most prominent work began when he moved to ITV. His program, "The Cook Report," aired from 1987 to 1999, running for 16 series and more than 120 episodes. The show attracted millions of viewers, peaking at over 12 million, and became the most popular current affairs program...