BAFTA award-winning TV investigator Roger Cook has died aged 83 after a career spanning more than 50 years – as tributes flood in.
Roger, who hosted his namesake show The Cook Report for over a decade, passed away after a short illness, his family confirmed.
Roger – who faced a number of cancer battles over the years – died in hospital with his wife Frances and daughter Belinda by his bedside.
He was famed for ushering in a new era of investigative reporting through an array of shows, including Checkpoint and Newsnight.
The reporter worked on several BBC radio and TV programmes, before switching to ITV with his most famous show, The Cook Report.
Issuing a touching tribute, Roger’s family hailed him as a “beloved husband and father”.
It read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Roger Cook, who died peacefully on Saturday after a short illness.
“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, and we ask for privacy as we navigate this difficult loss.”
Over the course of 12 years – and across 16 series – Roger travelled the globe uncovering serious criminal activity.
His undercover stings, including people smuggling, drug dealing and the tainted blood scandal, drew in millions of viewers between 1987 and 1999.
Roger was born in New Zealand in April 1943 and later raised in Australia.
It was the latter where started his career as a reporter and newsreader at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
After moving to London in 1968, Roger went on to join BBC’s The World At One programme.
During his time with the broadcaster, he also worked on several other programmes, including PM, Nationwide and Newsnight.
During the 1970s, Roger expanded into investigative reporting.
He founded and presented Radio 4 show Checkpoint, which exposed criminals and wrongdoing among officials.
But the programme was later reformatted and changed to The Cook Report when he took it to ITV.
In its heyday, it attracted more than 12 million viewers and won a number of awards, including a BAFTA in 1997.
The Cook Report exposed child pornography, Northern Ireland protection rackets, baby trading in Brazil and the illicit ivory trade.
He also looked at illegal immigration, war criminals in Bosnia and those behind 9/11 and other terrorist plots.
Cook also managed to expose the Russian black market in weapons-grade plutonium.
A number of his programmes were followed by successful police prosecutions or major changes in the law.
In a touching tribute, ITV bosses hailed his work as “groundbreaking”.
It read: “In a career spanning an incredible five decades, Roger Cook’s groundbreaking approach to investigative journalism made him one of broadcasting’s most trusted and respected figures.
“On his eponymous current affairs programme, The Cook Report, Roger worked tirelessly to expose criminal wrongdoing and injustice, helping to drive important and lasting changes in the law.
“His fearless contribution to journalism will long be remembered, and we send our deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife, family and friends at this difficult time.”
Roger appeared on This Is Your Life in April 2003 and interviewer became interviewee as he was taken through his career by host Michael Aspen.
In his autobiography, More Dangerous Ground, Roger described his pride over both his and his colleagues’ achievements over the years.
He wrote: “As I stepped through the doors of the set, friends and family were arrayed before me.
“I was, of course, pleased to see them, but very embarrassed too. Contrary to what you might think, I do not like being on public display.
“Despite my acute embarrassment, I couldn’t help feeling proud of what I and my colleagues had managed to achieve over the years.
“I was also proud of Frances and Belinda, ‘my support team at home’. They looked gorgeous. There was much, much more.
“I was overwhelmed and mightily relieved when the praising stopped and Michael Aspel handed me the Big Red Book – intoning, in time-honoured fashion: “Roger Cook, this is your life.”
“Well thanks, Michael, I thought – it’s been challenging, rewarding and mostly enjoyable, but it’s not quite over yet.”
