Veteran journalist and current affairs broadcaster Roger Cook has died at the age of 83 following a short illness. His family announced the news, while ITV, where he worked for years, has paid tribute.
Born in New Zealand, Cook was brought up and started his media career in Australia, before moving to the United Kingdom in the late 1960s.
He worked on The World at One and Newsnight for the BBC, before creating his own show Checkpoint for Radio 4.
Cook later moved to ITV, where his show The Cook Report ran for 16 seasons between 1987 and 1999.
The show popularised the undercover 'sting' format, becoming notorious for its explosive confrontations, and led to a number of criminal convictions and changes to the law.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Roger Cook, who died peacefully on Saturday after a short illness," reads the statement from his family.
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"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."
The tribute from ITV reads: "In a career spanning an incredible five decades, Roger Cook's groundbreaking 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."
Cook was awarded a BAFTA in 1997 for his then-25 years of investigative reporting, and was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Nottingham Trent University in 2004.
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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.
