ITV Broadcaster Roger Cook Dies at 83

Roger Cook, the New Zealand-born journalist who hosted the ITV current affairs programme The Cook Report, died on Saturday at age 83 after a short illness. His family issued a statement on Monday confirming the death and requesting privacy during their period of mourning.

The statement described Cook as a beloved husband and father whose career in journalism spanned several decades. It noted that he would be deeply missed by family members.

Cook began his UK journalism career in the late 1960s after moving from New Zealand. He created and hosted the BBC Radio 4 programme Checkpoint starting in 1973, which focused on exposing criminals and con artists. He transitioned to television in 1984 and began hosting The Cook Report on ITV in 1987.

The programme ran for 16 series across 12 years until 1999. The Cook Report investigated topics including child pornography, Northern Ireland protection rackets, baby trading in Brazil, the illicit ivory trade, illegal immigration, and war criminals in Bosnia.

Cook received a Bafta special award for the series in 1997. In 2007, he presented a 90-minute special titled Roger Cook's Greatest Hits, during which he mentioned receiving death threats related to the programme.

ITV issued a statement describing Cook's work as exposing criminal wrongdoing and injustice, and said his contribution helped drive changes in the law. The broadcaster expressed condolences to his wife, family, and friends.