Brian Johnston Biography

by Tim Heald

Possibly the most distinctive voice in British broadcasting, Brian Johnston was best known as the jovial, chocolate-cake-eating "Johnners" of the BBC's Test Match Special team. But in a 48-year career at the microphone, he was also a commentator for royal weddings and other state occasions, a live reporter of crazy charades for In Town Tonight, and the presenter of 733 editions of Down Your Way. This biography, which draws on unpublished sources including Johnston's diaries, reveals him as a man of versatility and courage, and shows that he had a serious side, while doing justice to the triumphant sense of fun for which he is remembered.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

314 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2015

About the author

Tim Heald (b. 1944) is a journalist and author of mysteries. Born in Dorchester, England, he studied modern history at Oxford before becoming a reporter and columnist for the Sunday Times. He began writing novels in the early 1970s, starting with Unbecoming Habits (1973), which introduced Simon Bognor, a defiantly lazy investigator for the British Board of Trade. Heald followed Bognor through nine more novels, including Murder at Moose Jaw (1981) and Business Unusual (1989) before taking a two-decade break from the series, which returned in 2011 with Death in the Opening Chapter.

Reviews

[Dipra Lahiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first rate biography of an iconic cricket broadcaster, renowned for his love for the game, his appalling puns and love of life and laughter. Goes well with recordings of his talks, which are easily found on the web.

[Malcolm Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was gifted to me by an old friend. A well researched and well written book about the old Test Match Special favourite. I'd recommend it to any cricket lover like myself. A remarkable man.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Johnston features in my earliest memories of Test Match Special [and John Arlott, of course].

His childlike himour and love for the game made him instantly loveable.

His career, however, was not just limited to cricket; long and varied it included the Queens Coronation, the Boat Race and many other noteable sports and events.

Johnston was a gentleman and is still greatly missed.

I challenge anyone to read one of his books and to not laugh out loud. Even those of you that hate and detest cricket will not be able to.

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

an affectionate biography of a much loved broadcaster, but I sense it does not get really close to the core of the man