About Alastair Burnet
Sir James William Alexander Burnet (12 July 1928 – 20 July 2012), known as Alastair Burnet, was a British journalist and broadcaster, who had a career working in news and current affairs programmes, including a long career with Independent Television News (ITN) as chief presenter of the flagship News at Ten; Sir Robin Day described Burnet as "the booster rocket that put ITN into orbit". He began his career in journalism as a sub-editor and junior leader writer for the Glasgow Herald newspaper from 1951 to 1958. Burnet joined the weekly news and current affairs magazine The Economist in 1958 before becoming ITN's political correspondent in 1963 and working on a number of current affairs programmes such as This Week. Burnet was one of the first newsreaders of the half hour News at Ten bulletin in 1967. He left television broadcasting in 1974 to become editor of the Daily Express newspaper until 1976. Burnet rejoined ITN to read the news on the News at 5:45 bulletin and he returned to present News at Ten two years later. He retired from ITN in 1991. == Early life == Burnet was born on 12 July 1928 in Fulwood, Sheffield to Scottish parents Alexander Burnet (1882–1957) and Jessy (Schonaid), née Rose. His father was an electrical and mechanical engineer, while his mother came from a Scottish Highlands family and she was raised in Easter Ross. One of Burnet's uncles was the Edinburgh divine W. Adam Burnet.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.