Roger Cook, the larger-than-life Australian TV journalist who turned the television doorstep into an art form, has died at the age of 83 after a short illness. Known for his fearless confrontations with criminals and conmen, Cook received 12 death threats throughout his career, but his family confirmed his death was unrelated to those.
A Career of Fearless Reporting
Cook began his journalism career at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation before moving to London in 1968. He joined BBC Radio 4's The World At One as a reporter and later presented the investigative programme Checkpoint, which ran for 12 years from 1973. In 1985, ITV poached him to create The Cook Report, a television version of his radio hit. The show ran for 12 years, spanning 16 series and 120 episodes, and became the most popular current affairs programme on TV, drawing up to 12 million viewers. In 1997, Cook received a BAFTA special award for 25 years of outstanding journalism.
His Methods and Impact
Cook described his technique: “We would create a scenario where, using greed or ego, we’d get someone to come along and show what they did - and then you’d pounce on them. And that always produced wonderful television.” His investigations covered a vast range of topics, from rigging pop charts to child pornography, illegal ivory trading, protection rackets, war crimes, terrorism, and Russian black market plutonium sales.
His work led to numerous successful police prosecutions and changes in the law. One sting exposed a money-laundering scheme by notorious criminal Johnny “Goldfinger” Palmer, contributing to his eight-year jail sentence for timeshare fraud. Another investigation into paramilitary extortionists in Northern Ireland saw a man with a gun demand £100,000 from Cook; the man was later imprisoned for ten years.
Injuries and Death Threats
Cook was frequently injured in the line of duty. In 1981, while reporting for the BBC’s Newsnight, he confronted a Brighton antiques dealer selling fake plastic antiques. The dealer attacked him with a metal bar, cracking three of Cook’s ribs. Over the years, he faced numerous assaults, including being hit with a 9-iron on a golf course by an Essex gangster and threatened with a baseball bat by a car thief.
Despite the dangers, Cook remained undeterred. In a 2012 BBC interview, he recalled: “We’re currently on death threat number 12 and the programme hasn’t been on the air for some time.” He admitted to suffering from “fear in arrears,” but said, “You don’t think about it - if you did you wouldn’t do it.”
Personal Life and Legacy
Cook leaves behind his wife of 44 years, Frances, and daughter Belinda. His family announced his death on Saturday, saying: “Alongside a distinguished and award-winning career in journalism, Roger was first and foremost a beloved husband and father. He will be deeply missed by all of us.”
ITV paid tribute, stating: “In a career spanning an incredible five decades, Roger Cook's ground-breaking approach to investigative journalism made him one of broadcasting's most trusted and respected figures. His fearless contribution to journalism will long be remembered.”
Cook’s autobiography, Dangerous Ground, recounts many of his adventures, including a humorous moment when a guilty man spotted him in a hotel foyer and sprinted out in panic. His legacy as a fearless journalist who held criminals to account will endure.
