Bill Grundy
- For the former VFL player, see Bill Grundy (footballer).
William "Bill" Grundy (18 May 1923 – 9 February 1993) was an English television presenter and former host of Today, a regional news programme broadcast on Thames Television. He became nationally notorious because of a foul-mouthed[1] interview with the Sex Pistols on his show in 1976.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
The son of a factory owner, William Grundy was born in Manchester in 1923 and educated at Manchester University, where he read geology. Grundy began his career as a geologist and as a part-time journalist. When Granada Television began broadcasting in 1956, Grundy auditioned for the post of newsreader, which at first he held in tandem with his geological work. He was the first television presenter to present The Beatles on Granada Television on 17 October 1962. He appeared on several TV shows, including People and Places and Man About the House, but his greatest claim to fame was as host of the Today show.
[edit] The Today show incident
Grundy became notorious in a matter of two minutes owing to an incident that occurred when the punk band Sex Pistols and their entourage appeared at short notice on the Today show of 1 December 1976.[2] They were a last minute stand-in for Queen, who were forced to cancel. The Today show was broadcast live and uncensored during daytime hours at a time when obscenities were forbidden.
The interview began when Grundy proceeded to introduce and provoke the band, with tongue firmly in cheek. He joked that he was under the influence as he introduced them - "...they are as drunk as I am!" Initially, he received mocking but relatively innocuous responses from Glen Matlock.[2] However, Steve Jones, when asked by Grundy what the band had done with the £40,000 given to them by their record company, said: "Fuckin' spent it", an obscenity which was overlooked by Grundy at the time.[2] Following this, John Lydon, in response to a question about Mozart, muttered the word "shit" under his breath, but when asked, said that it was nothing but a "rude word" and asked Grundy to proceed with the interview. Grundy insisted that Lydon repeat what he had said, which Lydon did, with Grundy then mocking Lydon.[2]
Next, Grundy jokingly made advances on Siouxsie Sioux, who appeared as part of the band's entourage, by saying "let's meet afterwards shall we?"[2] An angry Steve Jones responded by calling Grundy a "dirty sod" and a "dirty old man." Grundy further goaded Jones to "say something outrageous", a challenge that Jones met by calling Grundy a "dirty bastard" and a "dirty fucker".[2] Grundy mockingly responded "what a clever boy" and Jones retorted "what a fucking rotter." As the show ended and the credits rolled, Grundy mouthed "oh shit" as the band began dancing to the closing theme.[2]
Although Today was only shown in the London ITV region, it became a national story due to coverage and comment by the tabloid press. As a result, Grundy was suspended for two weeks and Today was cancelled two months later.[2]
[edit] Post-Today
The broadcast wrecked Grundy's television career. By 1979 he was presenting a book review programme, A Better Read, broadcast not at prime time like Today, but early on Sunday mornings.[3] His presenting slot on What the Papers Say in the early 1980s was his last on national British television, although he continued to present on BBC North West on such shows as Sweet and Sour and The Lancashire Lads into the mid-80s. He also appeared as an interviewer in ITV's adaptation of A Kind of Loving in 1982. Grundy died of a heart attack in Stockport, Greater Manchester,[4] on 9 February 1993, aged 69. His obituary was by his friend and colleague Brian Inglis. Two days later Inglis himself died.
His son Tim Grundy was a popular radio presenter in the Manchester area until his death in 2009. Grundy's other son Nick lives and teaches English in France.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0knFHyDD150
- ^ a b c d e f g h Matlock, Glen (June 1, 1998). I was a teenage Sex Pistol. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0711918177.
- ^ http://www.ansible.co.uk/writing/ff02.html
- ^ http://www.findmypast.com/BirthsMarriagesDeaths.jsp Deaths England and Wales 1984-2006
