View source for Clive Robertson (broadcaster)

{{Short description|Australian broadcaster (1945–2024)}}
{{other people|Clive Robertson}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Clive Robertson
| image              = 
| image_size         = 
| caption            = 
| birth_name         = Clive Alexander Robertson
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1945|12|28|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Katoomba, New South Wales]], Australia
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|2024|12|01|1945|12|28|df=y}}
| death_place        = Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia
| occupation         = Radio presenter and television host
| known_for          = Radio presenter at [[2GB]] and ABC
| years active       = 1967–2024
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Penny Cook]]|reason=divorced}}
| parents            = 
| children           = 
}}

'''Clive Alexander Robertson''' (28 December 1945 – 1 December 2024) was an Australian radio and television presenter in Sydney who was heard on both the AM and FM bands for over 40 years.

== Early life ==
Robertson was born in [[Katoomba, New South Wales]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=2024-12-12 |title=Clive Robertson Dies After Cancer Battle |url=https://au.variety.com/2024/more/news/clive-robertson-obituary-19094/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Variety Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> in 1945. He left school at the age of 16 to begin work on a farm (including his beloved "[[Massey-Harris]] tractor"), going on to work for his father (a lawyer), later doing court work, and then moving on to become an electrical apprentice as well as running wires for the [[Postmaster-General's Department]]. He later worked on the railways cleaning [[steam locomotives]], and also driving them from time to time, which would fuel a lifelong fascination with them.

== Career ==
In 1967 with the advent of [[talk radio]], Robertson began his broadcasting career working at a number of stations in the southwest of Western Australia. In 1972 he joined the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) in Sydney, beginning on the radio station [[2BL (AM)|2BL]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-12-12 |title=Vale Radio and TV legend Clive Robertson |url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/vale-radio-and-tv-legend-clive-robertson/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=RadioInfo Australia |language=en-US}}</ref> He moved to Canberra a few months later and worked on 2CY and [[2CN]]. A well known part of his breakfast show on 2BL was his daily ''tête-à-tête'' with either [[Caroline Jones (broadcaster)|Caroline Jones]] or [[Margaret Throsby]].<ref name="2bl">{{YouTube|ig8lKlxLEVo|Clive Robertson 2BL 1979}}</ref> He also presented the 7&nbsp;pm television news for the ABC.

In 1980, he worked at [[2Day FM|2DAY-FM]], but returned to the ABC some months later.

From 1982 to 1988{{fact|date=December 2024}} he was host of the ''[[Beauty and the Beast (talk show)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' television talk show on [[Network Ten]]. Leaving ABC radio, he then moved to the [[Seven Network]] where he hosted the news program ''[[11AM (TV series)|11AM]]'', and in 1985 became the host of ''Newsworld''.<ref name="help">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=UzsRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aucDAAAAIBAJ&dq=clive-robertson+radio+6ix&pg=2123,2212607|title=Help from the boss for Robbo|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=22 January 1989}}</ref> Robertson took a unique approach to ''Newsworld'', and his later news show on the [[Nine Network]], ''Robbo's World Tonight'':

{{blockquote|I thought I'll muck around and then they'll take me off it, you see. And it didn't work that way ... I'd have to say the order of things especially at Channel 9, the order of news items. And if I said, "Look, this is really important", I'd look at the camera and say, "This is a really important story" and set it up, and if it was an important story, then the audience think, "Oh this guy's a good filter." If you said, "Look, this is a silly item, I don't know why we're running it" and you run it and it is a silly item, you've got them. And it's not a con. What that program did is different from most news programs is gave things what they really were worth ... and did that go down well with the journalists? Have a guess Peter. "He's ruining our station" and all that rubbish. I mean, we get a new item in at, say, 10.30 at night and I'd say, "By the way, you'll see this at 6 o'clock tomorrow night" and they'll say it's the latest, "you know better". "You can't say things like that." Well, you know, come on, so journalists are a bit thick as you know...|ABC ''[[Talking Heads (Australian TV series)|Talking Heads]]'' interview<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1460795.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130203747/http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1460795.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 November 2007|title=Talking Heads – Clive Robertson|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=30 November 2007|accessdate=28 December 2018}}</ref>}}

Over the years Robertson has also presented radio programs on [[6VA]], [[6TZ]], [[6IX]], [[2UE]], [[2GB]], [[2SM]] and [[ABC Classic FM]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/clive-broadcast-20051029-gdmca7.html|title=Clive broadcast|date=29 October 2005|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=28 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="help"/><ref name="ABC">{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/clive-goes-all-cuddly-20060518-ge2bwo.html|title=Clive goes all cuddly|first=Daphne|last=Guinness|date=18 May 2006|website=The Age|accessdate=28 December 2018}}</ref> as well as TV station [[STW|STW-9]] and [[Network Ten]]. In 2006 he returned to national TV screens on the [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC Television]] show ''Agony Aunts''.<ref name="ABC"/>

Robertson filled in for [[Stan Zemanek]] on 2UE from 8&nbsp;pm to midnight just prior to Christmas in 2006. After the new year, he was moved to the midnight to dawn overnight timeslot. Robertson left 2UE in March 2008, not able to cope with the hours,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/model-of-decorum-on-the-red-20080228-gds2wl.html|title=Model of decorum on the red|first=Emily Dunn and Elicia|last=Murray|date=28 February 2008|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=28 December 2018}}</ref> but returned to 3&nbsp;pm to 6&nbsp;pm on weekend afternoons, and later the 2UE ''Nights'' program (8:00 pm to 12:00 am).

== On-air personality ==
Robertson was known for his wry wit and humorous dealings with [[talk-back]] callers, and his outspoken manner. He said that Perth radio station [[6IX]] fired him because he would not use the station's slogan, "Have a happy day".<ref>''[http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/440283 Australia's Entertainers]''; Compiled by Margot Veitch; p. 119</ref>

During his late-night TV news, he once showed the weather forecast displayed on a board. Beside "Brisbane" was the word "pooey".

In his morning programme on ABC Classic FM, he occasionally talked with the show's producer, Ivan Lloyd, the man who selected the music each day. Although Robertson claimed to be untrained in Classical music, his interest and enthusiasm was obvious and he was especially fond of string quartets. In his talk between pieces of music, he sometimes referred to his lawn mowing at home, and revealed that his lawn mower was, naturally, named "Lorna", or "Lawner", but he then explained this should not be confused with "Lorna" who managed the ABC's music library and helped with selecting pieces to be played.

== Personal life and death ==
Robertson was married twice. His second marriage was to actress [[Penny Cook]]. Both marriages ended in divorce.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1460795.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130203747/http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1460795.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-11-30 |title=Talking Heads - Clive Robertson |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2005-09-19 |accessdate=2013-06-18}}</ref>

Clive Robertson died aged 78 on Sunday, 1 December 2024 after a battle with cancer.<ref>[https://www.weeklytimes.com.au/eastwood-broadcast-legend-loses-his-battle-with-cancer/ Weekly Times]</ref> His death was not publicly revealed until 12 December.<ref name="news">{{cite web|url= https://7news.com.au/business/media/australian-broadcasting-legend-clive-robertson-dies-age-78-after-cancer-battle-c-17057587.amp |title=Australian broadcasting legend Clive Robertson dies age 78 after cancer battle |publisher=7news.com.au|date=2024-12-12|accessdate=2024-12-12}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{imdb name|0731775}}

{{ABC Classic FM}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Clive}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Classical music radio presenters]]
[[Category:Australian talk radio hosts]]
[[Category:Australian television personalities]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from Sydney]]
[[Category:People from Katoomba, New South Wales]]
[[Category:ABC radio (Australia) journalists and presenters]]
[[Category:Former 2GB presenters]]