Patrick Hannan MBE (26 September 1941 – 11 October 2009) was a Welsh

political journalist Political journalism is a broad branch of journalism that includes coverage of all aspects of politics and political science, although the term usually refers specifically to coverage of civil governments and political power. Political journ ...

, author and television and radio presenter. The son of an Irish doctor who migrated to Wales in the 1930s, he was born and raised in

Aberaman Aberaman is a village near Aberdare in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, south Wales. It was heavily dependent on the coal industry and the population, as a result, grew rapidly in the late nineteenth century. Most of the industry has now ...

, near

Aberdare Aberdare ( ; ) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and River Cynon, Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tydf ...

South Wales South Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the Historic counties of Wales, historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire ( ...

. He was educated at

Cowbridge Grammar School Cowbridge Grammar School was one of the best-known schools in Wales until its closure in 1974. It was replaced by Cowbridge Comprehensive School. Founded in the 17th century by Sir John Stradling, 1st Baronet, Sir John Stradling and refounde ...

, where

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor. Considered one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for List of Anthony Hopkins performances, his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins ha ...

was a fellow pupil; and at

Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth University () is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The university has over 8,000 stude ...

, where he first entered journalism writing for the college newspaper, ''The Courier''. He joined the graduate training scheme at '' Western Mail'' in the mid-1960s, becoming industrial editor, before joining

BBC Wales BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcasting, public broadcaster in Wales. It is one of the four BBC national regions, alongside the BBC English Regions, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Scotland. Established in 1964, ...

in 1970. He became a presenter of the daily regional news programme ''

Wales Today ''BBC Wales Today'' is the BBC's national television news programme for Wales, broadcast on BBC One Wales from the headquarters of BBC Cymru Wales in Central Square, Cardiff. According to the BBC, it is the world's longest-running television n ...

''. For thirteen years he was the BBC's political correspondent in Wales, and had a weekly series on

BBC Radio Wales BBC Radio Wales is a Wales, Welsh national radio station owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It began broadcasting on 13 November 1978, replacing the Welsh opt-out service of BBC Radio 4. As of August 2022, the stat ...

. He broadcast regularly on

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...

, presenting the political and discussion programmes, ''Out of Order'' and ''Tea Junction.'' He was well known as one half of the Welsh team in the popular ''

Round Britain Quiz ''Round Britain Quiz'' (''RBQ'') is a panel game that has been broadcast on BBC Radio since 1947, making it the oldest quiz still broadcast on British radio. It was based on a format called ''Transatlantic Quiz'', a contest between American an ...

,'' and for the fifth time in ten years with his colleague Peter Stead had won the 2009 competition. He produced documentary programmes for

BBC2 BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matter, incorporating genres such as comedy, drama and ...

and HTV. He wrote four books, and edited two. Awarded an MBE in 1994 for services to broadcasting, he was an honorary fellow of

Cardiff University Cardiff University () is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It was renamed Unive ...

and

. He married

Menna Richards Menna Richards OBE was the Controller of BBC Cymru Wales from February 2000 to February 2011. Biography Born in Maesteg, Bridgend County Borough, Wales, Richards was educated at the town's Grammar School, and later at the University of Wales, Ab ...

, former director of BBC Wales, in 1985. He had two sons and a daughter from his first marriage. He died after a short illness.

Publications

*''Wales on the Wireless: A Broadcasting Anthology'', (ed, 1988),

Gomer Press Gomer Press ( Welsh: ''Gwasg Gomer'') is a family printing (and formerly publishing) company based in Llandysul, west Wales. It was the largest publishing house in Wales. History The company was first established in 1892 and began as a general ...

in association with

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

, *''The Welsh Illusion'' (1999) *''Wales Off Message'' (2000) *''2001 A Year in Wales'' (2001) *''When Arthur Met Maggie'' (2006) *''A Useful Fiction: Adventures in British Democracy'' (2009)

References

External links

Bio
at

BBC Obituary

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hannan, Patrick 1941 births 2009 deaths Alumni of Aberystwyth University BBC newsreaders and journalists Members of the Order of the British Empire Welsh journalists Welsh television presenters People educated at Cowbridge Grammar School People from Aberaman