Roger Cook, the investigative journalist who gained national recognition for the hard-hitting Birmingham-produced programme The Cook Report, has died at the age of 83 following a brief illness.
Family Announcement
His family released a statement saying: "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."
Career Highlights
Cook joined ITV in 1985, and The Cook Report, produced in Birmingham by Central TV, ran for 16 series and more than 120 episodes. The show pursued criminals, con-men, and corrupt officials, becoming the most popular current affairs programme on television at the time, with audiences of up to ten million.
The programme exposed a range of issues including child pornography, Northern Ireland protection rackets, baby trading in Brazil, the illicit ivory trade, illegal immigration, war criminals in Bosnia, and those behind 9/11 and other terrorist plots. Cook also uncovered the Russian black market in weapons-grade plutonium. Many of his investigations led to successful police prosecutions or major legal changes.
Tributes from ITV
A statement from ITV read: "In a career spanning an incredible five decades, Roger Cook’s ground-breaking 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."
Earlier Career
Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Cook began his journalism career in Australia before moving to London in 1968 to join BBC Radio 4’s The World At One programme as a reporter and presenter. He later created and presented the BBC Radio 4 show Checkpoint, which ran from 1973 to 1985 and focused on exposing criminal wrongdoing and injustice.
The success of Checkpoint led to his acclaimed ITV show The Cook Report, which ran for 12 years and earned Cook a Bafta Television special award in 1998. He revisited some of his most famous stings in a 2007 special titled Roger Cook’s Greatest Hits, where he admitted receiving death threats due to the series.
Legacy
Cook was known for his confrontational, doorstepping investigative style, which was parodied by comedians such as Reeves and Mortimer, and Sir Stephen Fry in the Channel 4 series This Is David Lander. Despite the injuries he sustained during his investigations, his work left a lasting impact on journalism and law.
