POPULAR broadcaster Cliff Michelmore, who lived at South Harting, has died at Petersfield Hospital at the age of 96.

His career of more than 60 years began as a Forces radio broadcaster, based in Hamburg, and Cliff met his wife, Jean Metcalfe, over the airwaves as she was the London anchor of the BBC radio show Two-Way Family Favourites.

He joined BBC television as a reporter in the South West then moved to presenting. As host of the current affairs programme Tonight from 1957 to 1965, Cliff became a national broadcasting figure with a more informal style of news presenting.

He went on to cover many major news stories, such as the assassination of President Kennedy, the Apollo moon landings and two general elections. Cliff’s interviewees including Prime Minister Harold Wilson and the Prince of Wales.

BBC’s Holiday programme from 1969 to 1986 introduced him to later audiences and he continued to work well on a range of projects well into his eighties.

His son, Guy, who has a sister, Jenny, told the BBC Cliff was admitted to Petersfield hospital last week and died on Wednesday, March 16.