Stuart Hall

James Stuart Hall Jr. (born 25 December 1929) is an English former media personality and convicted sex offender. He presented regional news programmes for the BBC in North West England in the 1960s and 1970s, while becoming known nationally for presenting the game show It's a Knockout (which was part of the international Jeux Sans Frontières franchise). Hall's later career mainly involved football reporting on BBC Radio. In June 2013, he was convicted of multiple sexual offences against children, effectively ending his media and broadcasting career. Early life Stuart Hall was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, the eldest son of baker James Stuart Hall, and his Irish-born wife, Mary (née Hennessey). He was brought up in Hyde, Cheshire, and Glossop, Derbyshire, attending the local grammar school. Hall directed plays when at school and chaired its debating society. While studying at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, he was offered a contract with Crystal Palace F.C. but turned it down because of the low wages. Career Journalism Hall joined the BBC in 1959 as a general reporter on Radio Newsreel and a sports journalist on Sports Report. Between 1965 and 1990, he presented BBC North West's regional news programmes produced in Manchester, originally called Look North, then Look North West and finally North West Tonight, alongside John Mundy. During the run of Nationwide (1969–83), Hall became known nationally through live link-ups.