Feature image above and below from photographer George Alfred Bailey
Bio
Radio and TV presenter, author, journalist and host
Classic FM Presenter
John presented his last “The Classic FM Concert with John Suchet” on 1st July 2022. Prior to that he had been the voice of morning radio on Classic FM for almost 10 years, making 12 years of live weekday broadcasting. He will be hosting specials later in the year, continuing to share the music he loves.
John has twice been honoured for his radio programme on Classic FM, at the New York Festivals International Radio Programme Awards in 2014, and the Association for International Broadcasting Awards in 2013.
Reporting the News
Before joining Classic FM, he was best known as one of the country’s most popular television reporters and newscasters. As a reporter for ITN, he covered major events around the world, including the Iran Revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the Philippines Revolution. He then became a newscaster for ITN, presenting all major bulletins including News at Ten.
John has been honoured in both roles. He was Television Reporter of the year in 1986, and Television Newscaster of the year in 1996. In 2008 the Royal Television Society accorded him its highest accolade, the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lifelong passion for classical music
John has had a lifelong passion for classical music, in particular for the life and works of Beethoven. He has published seven books on the great composer, the latest, in 2020, a special 250th anniversary edition of his 2012 biography ‘Beethoven — The Man Revealed’.
In September 2015 he published a biography of the Strauss family, “The Strauss Dynasty and Vienna”, which entered the Sunday Times bestseller list at no.8. This was followed by ‘Mozart — The Man Revealed’ in 2016, ‘Verdi — The Man Revealed’ in 2017, and ‘Tchaikovsky — The Man Revealed’ in 2018.
John has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by his old university, The University of Dundee, and Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Music for his work on Beethoven.
Lifelong passion for classical music
John has had a lifelong passion for classical music, in particular for the life and works of Beethoven. He has published seven books on the great composer, the latest, in 2020, a special 250th anniversary edition of his 2012 biography ‘Beethoven — The Man Revealed’.
In September 2015 he published a biography of the Strauss family, “The Strauss Dynasty and Vienna”, which entered the Sunday Times bestseller list at no.8.
This was followed by ‘Mozart — The Man Revealed’ in 2016, ‘Verdi — The Man Revealed’ in 2017, and ‘Tchaikovsky — The Man Revealed’ in 2018.
John has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by his old university, The University of Dundee, and Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Music for his work on Beethoven.
Honours
- In 2023 John was awarded an OBE for Services to Journalism and Charity in the 2023 New Year Honours List, the first honours list of King Charles III.
- In 2014 John won a Gold Award for the best Radio Personality at the New York Festivals International Radio Programme Awards.
- In 2013 John was named International Radio Personality of the Year at the Association for International Broadcasting Awards.
- In 2010 the University of Worcester awarded John an honorary degree of Master of Arts, in recognition of his work on behalf of carers of people with dementia.
- In 2008 the Royal Television Society awarded John its highest honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his career of nearly 40 years in television news.
- In 2001 the Royal Academy of Music awarded John an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his work on Beethoven. He remains the Academy’s Orator at graduation each summer, reading the citations for honorands.
- In 2000 John’s old university, the University of Dundee, awarded him the degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws, in recognition of his achievements in the field of journalism.
- In 1996 John was voted Newscaster of the Year by the Television and Radio Industries Club.
- In 1986 John was named Television Journalist of the Year by the Royal Television Society, for his reporting of the Philippines revolution.