Rod Liddle, the journalist and broadcaster known for his razor-sharp wit and uncompromising opinions, has died at the age of 66 after a short illness. He passed away at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Career Highlights and Controversies
Liddle edited the BBC's Today programme from 1998 to 2002, resigning after writing about the Countryside Alliance. He chose his newspaper column over the BBC, a decision that surprised no one. His freelance career saw him write for The Spectator, The Sunday Times, and The Sun, becoming one of Britain's most prominent right-wing commentators.
His views often sparked outrage, leading to accusations of misogyny and racism, but he defended free speech and satire, surviving attempts to cancel him.
Documentaries and Broadcast Work
Liddle made several documentaries, including Channel 4's Dispatches episode "The New Fundamentalists" and "The Trouble With Atheism." His 2005 documentary "Immigration Is a Time Bomb" drew complaints, but Ofcom ruled it fair.
More recently, he presented a weekly show on Times Radio.
Personal Life and Tributes
Liddle left his first wife, Rachel Royce, for Alicia Monckton, whom he married in 2008. His children from both marriages released a statement expressing pride in his legacy.
Tributes came from colleagues, including John Humphrys, who called him "a one-off," and Justin Webb, who praised his genuine hostility to authority. Ben Taylor, editor of The Sunday Times, said, "We will miss him desperately."
Before the BBC, Liddle worked as a reporter and as a research assistant for the Labour Party. He joined the BBC as a trainee producer and became editor of Today in 1998.
