Russell Harty

Frederic Russell Harty (b. 5 September, 1934 ? 8 June, 1988) was a British television presenter with a distinctly camp turn of phrase; his name has been used as Cockney rhyming slang for party.

Related Topics:
5 September - 1934 - 8 June - 1988 - Camp - Cockney rhyming slang

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Born in Blackburn, he attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School on West Park Road. He got his first break in 1970 presenting the arts programme Aquarius that was intended to be London Weekend Television's response to the BBC's Omnibus. In 1973 he was given his own series Russell Harty Plus on ITV which placed him against the BBC's Parkinson conducting lengthy celebrity interviews. The show lasted until 1981.

Related Topics:
Blackburn - London Weekend Television's - BBC's - Omnibus - ITV - Parkinson

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In 1983, Harty moved to the BBC with an early evening celebrity chatshow, which gained some notoriety when he was attacked by Grace Jones on live TV. This show was cancelled in 1985.

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Harty began working on a new series Russell Harty's Grand Tour for the BBC in 1987; one of the few interviews completed before his death was with Salvador Dali. His partner from the early 1980s was the novelist Jamie O'Neill. He died of AIDS related Hepatitis B.

Related Topics:
Salvador Dali - AIDS - Hepatitis B

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