Roger Cook, broadcaster known for the doorstep interview and ITV's The Cook Report, dies at 83

A five-decade career in journalism

Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Cook moved to the UK in the late 1960s to begin his broadcasting career. He initially worked on BBC Radio 4's The World at One before creating the consumer-affairs programme Checkpoint in 1973.

The radio show saw Cook develop his confrontational style, tackling fraudsters and exposing injustice, often placing himself in physical danger.

The birth of the doorstep interview

The "doorstep" technique – arriving unannounced at a subject's home or workplace to demand answers – became Cook's signature. He considered it essential to expose wrongdoing, though he later admitted he hated doing it. The approach was first widely used on Checkpoint and later became central to The Cook Report's success.

The Cook Report and 12 million viewers

In 1987, Cook launched The Cook Report on ITV, where it ran for 16 series across 12 years until 1999. At its peak, the programme drew more than 12 million viewers and earned Cook the reputation as Britain's toughest investigative reporter. The show covered cases of criminality, corporate incompetence and government failures, and led to legal and policy changes.

Physical danger and personal cost

Cook was frequently injured during his investigations. In 1981, while confronting an alleged car thief for an early TV report, he suffered three broken ribs from a baseball bat. He was also run over by a car, attacked with metal bars and at one point police revealed a hitman had been hired to kill him. Despite the risks, he continued his work for decades.

Later years and recognition

In 1997, Cook received a BAFTA special award for "25 years of outstanding quality investigative reporting." The Cook Report ended in 1999, but he returned in 2007 for a 90-minute retrospective special, Roger Cook's Greatest Hits. He retired from regular broadcasting while remaining a respected figure in journalism.

Death and tributes

Cook died peacefully on 13 June 2026 after a short illness, his family announced on 15 June. In a statement, the Cook family said:

“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.”

ITV added:

“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.”

The broadcaster praised Cook's "fearless contribution to journalism."