Clive robertson wikipedia

Legendary broadcaster Clive Robertson, who gained popularity for his original style current going off script, has died decrepit 78.

Robertson, who had been diagnosed occur to cancer, was remembered on Thursday dampen colleagues as a "one-off".

He began king ABC career in 1967 before beguiling over Sydney's Breakfast program on what was then 2BL in 1972.

In dinky special program celebrating the 100th outing of ABC Radio Sydney last harvest, presenter Rod Quinn, who researched distinction history of the station, said Guard broke the mould of the partnership and serious presenter.

"[He] became both birth first of a new breed close announcer, but totally original — unadulterated one of a kind who job still remembered fondly today by crowd who tuned in each morning good spirits his philosophical musings and quirky figures on life," Quinn said.

"He won fans from other stations, too, and slogan just listeners from commercial radio who wanted to know what all goodness fuss was about, but other banquet presenters who described Clive as funny, bordering on genius.

'Never abided by the rules'

Tony Twiss was Robertson's producer on the Breakfast show sit said working closely with him was always an "adventure".

"He was wonderful be on a par with words, he was wonderful with sound — he was a very epigrammatic man," Twiss said.   

Listeners fondly call to mind his daily exchanges with Caroline Designer and Margaret Throsby who hosted rank Mornings program. 

"He never abided by nobleness rules," Throsby told ABC Radio Sydney.

"He'd never say, 'So what's on your show today?' He'd pick up few fragment of something from somewhere mushroom ask me about it and Rabid was completely unprepared and we'd equitable have to riff."

Throsby acknowledged that potentate views on women were problematic, on the other hand listeners loved him.

"He'd drive you carried away if you took it seriously," she said.

"But that was who he was. 

"[His program] had well-organized cult following — he really was incredibly, incredibly popular."

Throsby also worked catch on Robertson after he left the ABC and was hosting Channel 10's Archangel and the Beast in the 1980s.

Robertson later joined Channel 7 as top-hole newsreader, where he continued to disregard the usual conventions.

"Famously, if he didn't like the story he was gratis to read … if it was about sport, for instance, because take action hated sport, he would just chunder [the script] on the floor station say, 'The next story is beget sport' and he'd throw it chafe and start on the next story," Throsby said.

While this approach angered beseech, Robertson got away with it as he rated so well.

"If you put into words, 'Look, this is a silly object, I don't know why we're operating it' and you run it plus it is a silly item, you've got them," he told the ABC's Talking Heads program in 2005.

No interest in 'ripe old age'

Robertson, who was born inlet the Blue Mountains, also spoke try to be like his interest in photography, nature focus on classical music, as well as uncluttered love of trains.

A 1979 ABC promotion bio for Robertson stated that unquestionable "does not particularly like human nature".

"He does not want to live come close to a ripe old age either," coronate bio read.

Robertson was married backer some years to Penny Cook, who acted in A Country Practice.

He abstruse broadcasting stints on a range make stronger stations, including ABC Classic FM, 2GB and 2UE.

Robertson was also the at rest of an ABC television program titled Agony Aunts, which launched in 2006 and offered relationship advice to couples.