Sean Rafferty

Sean Rafferty MBE is a Belfast-born, Northern Irish broadcaster, now best known for his work on BBC Radio 3.

For the poet, see Seán Rafferty.

André Previn and Sean Rafferty (standing) (2012)

Early life

Rafferty was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and spent his childhood in Newcastle, County Down.

He went on to study law at Queen's University, Belfast.[1]

Career

Rafferty's original career was as an accountant. In 1969, he met the head of BBC Northern Ireland at a conference, and this meeting led to Rafferty joining the BBC as a researcher.[2]

He went on to become a regular presenter on the BBC Northern Ireland news television programmes, Scene Around Six and Inside Ulster. In 1990, he fronted the first chat show on BBC Radio Ulster, entitled Rafferty. From 1994, he joined the morning radio news programme, Good Morning Ulster, and the arts programme 29 Bedford Street, and the following year, he launched the drivetime news and current affairs programme on Radio Ulster, Evening Extra. Rafferty also fronted a makeover show, Room for Improvement.[2]

After years working mainly in news and current affairs, Rafferty decided to cross over into arts broadcasting, and in 1997, he moved to London to present the drivetime music magazine programme on BBC Radio 3, In Tune. Under Rafferty, the programme features a mix of live and recorded classical and jazz music, interviews with musicians, and arts news.[3]

Honours and awards

In 2004, Rafferty was named Radio Broadcaster of the Year at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.[4]

Rafferty was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting.[5]

References
  1. "In Tune Presenters: Sean Rafferty". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  2. Morris, Sophie (19 February 2011). "Sean Rafferty: My Life In Media - Media, News - The Independent". The Independent. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  3. Kate Chisholm "Stalwarts of the airwaves" Archived 2012-04-30 at the Wayback Machine, The Spectator, 29 May 2010
  4. "BPG TV & Radio Awards 2004". Broadcasting Press Guild. 31 December 2007. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  5. "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2017. p. B21.
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