Tom Ross (born 1947) is a Scottish journalist and television producer who worked for the BBC from 1971 until 1996.

Early life

Born in Glasgow and educated at Hutchesons' Boys' Grammar School he gained a master's degree in history from the

University of Glasgow The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals; ) is a Public university, public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the List of oldest universities in continuous ...

Career

He began his BBC career as a News Trainee in London - part of an intake of six trainee journalists that included David Davies, later Executive Director of the Football Association, and

Brian Hanrahan Brian Hanrahan (22 March 1949 – 20 December 2010) was a British television journalist who was the Diplomatic News Editor for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Early life Hanrahan was born in the county of Middlesex, England, ...

the BBC Correspondent famous for the "I Counted Them Out, I Counted Them Back" report during the Falklands War.

1973

After spells with the BBC2 political programme Westminster with David Holmes and the Radio 4 Today Programme with

John Timpson John Harry Robert Timpson, (2 July 1928 – 19 November 2005) was a British journalist, best known as a radio presenter. Early life Born at Ridgeholme, 53 The Ridgeway, Kenton, Middlesex, he was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, a boys' ...

and Robert Robinson he joined BBC Scotland's Television Current Affairs department in Glasgow in 1973.

1983

Under Matthew Spicer he directed and produced Current Account and

Public Account ''Public Account'' was a weekly political programme first transmitted on 6 January 1975 by BBC Television in Scotland. It was the sister programme to BBC Scotland's Current Account which covered general current affairs issues rather than ...

with

Donald MacCormick Donald MacCormick (16 April 1939 – 12 July 2009)Veteran BBC newsman dies aged 70
...

, James Cox and

Andrew Neil Andrew Ferguson Neil (born 21 May 1949) is a British journalist and broadcaster. He was editor of ''The Sunday Times'' from 1983 to 1994. He has presented various political programmes on the BBC and on Channel 4. Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire ...

and in 1983 ran BBC Scotland's highly successful General Election Coverage.

1984

In 1984 he moved to Birmingham to become Assistant Editor of the BBC's popular lunchtime magazine

Pebble Mill at One ''Pebble Mill at One'' was a British television magazine programme that was broadcast live on weekdays at one o'clock on BBC1, from 2 October 1972 to 23 May 1986, and again from 14 October 1991 to 29 March 1996. It was transmitted from the Peb ...

. producing one of its highest rated shows live from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in the English Channel.

1986

In 1986 he became first Executive Producer, then Editor in 1989, of the BBC2 motoring magazine

Top Gear Top Gear may refer to: * "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission Television * ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme * ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the ori ...

. During his five-year spell as Editor Motoring Programmes for the BBC Top Gear became the top rated show on BBC2 for the first time and the audience reached nearly 6 million. This was despite several determined efforts by various Controllers of BBC2 to cancel the programme. The main presenter of the programme was William Woollard with contributions from

Chris Goffey Christopher Robert Goffey (born 17 October 1945)Debrett's
is an English journalist and te ...

, Frank Page and Sue Baker. A number of new faces were introduced over these years including

Tiff Needell Timothy Richard "Tiff" Needell (born 29 October 1951) is a British racing driver and television presenter. He is a presenter of '' Lovecars'', and formerly served as co-presenter of '' Top Gear'' and '' Fifth Gear''. Biography Needell attende ...

, Tom Boswell and, most famously,

Jeremy Clarkson Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English television presenter, journalist, farmer, and author who specialises in Driving, motoring. He is best known for hosting the television programmes ''Top Gear (2002 TV series), T ...

.Article title
The Top Gear team also produced coverage of the bi-annual British International Motor Show which alternated with London Motorfair.

Noel Edmonds Noel Ernest Edmonds (born 22 December 1948) is an English businessman, and former television presenter, radio DJ, writer and producer. Edmonds first became known as a disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg before moving to BBC Radio 1 in the UK, pres ...

and

Janet Ellis Janet Ellis, (born 16 September 1955) is an English television presenter, actress and writer, who is best known for presenting the children's television programmes ''Blue Peter'' and '' Jigsaw'' between 1979 and 1987. She has published two nov ...

Blue Peter ''Blue Peter'' is a British children's television entertainment programme created by John Hunter Blair. It is the longest-running children's TV show in the world, having been broadcast since October 1958. It was broadcast primarily from BBC ...

fame were among its most famous presenters. Rallying was the one sport that BBC Sport in London did not control. Each November Top Gear Rally Report provided nightly coverage and background programmes on the Lombard RAC Rally, then the last round of the World Rally Championship. Presented by William Woollard with reports from Barrie Gill and Tony Mason the programmes developed a loyal audience despite frequent attempts by BBC bosses to kill it. Tony Mason went on to join Top Gear, initially as its rally specialist.

1991

After Tom Ross left the programme in 1991 he went on to work in various managerial posts till he left the BBC five years later. He then worked for a spell in the independent sector.

Family

He is married with two children and lives in

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Staffordshire and Leicestershire to the north, Northamptonshire to the east, Ox ...

Notes

References

*The Independent newspaper (Media Weekly) p. 11. Monday 28 February 2005 *Ariel magazine 25 October 2011 www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/15444971 {{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Tom Journalists from Glasgow Scottish television producers BBC television producers People educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School Alumni of the University of Glasgow 1947 births Living people Top Gear (TV franchise)