Sir John Tusa

Interview recorded in north London 2009

40' 45"

Or if you prefer, download an MP3 of this interview here (37MB)

Sir John Tusa joined the BBC as a trainee in 1960 and went on to become one of its main reporters and news presenters, fronting Newsnight on TV, various bulletins and special reports. But, unusually for a presenter, it was in management that Tusa excelled. He was Managing Director of the BBC’s World Service for seven years, universally credited with transforming the service and ultimately saving it from possible demise. For 12 years, Tusa was managing director of the Barbican Centre in London and once again he transformed an institution, bringing his mix of solid management and passion for all culture to one of the greatest arts centres in the world.

If you sat down to dinner at a friend's home and found yourself next to Sir John Tusa, you could not imagine talking to a warmer or more open minded person. So utterly articulate and forthcoming, it is hard to imagine that he had held the usually guarded strings of power. But quickly you understand his many strengths are reinforced by his real love of the arts.

Tariq Ali

Gillian Moore

Pod Talk presented by Robert Cohen and produced by Tommy Pearson.

© Robert Cohen 2009

Theme music: Sonata for Solo Cello, Op 8 (Mvt III) by Zoltan Kodaly,

published by Universal Edition.