Stuart Cosgrove

Stuart Cosgrove (born 12 November 1952) is a Scottish journalist, broadcaster and television executive. As a journalist Cosgrove served on the NME (Media Editor) and The Face during the 1980s, before joining Channel 4 in April 1994, serving for eight years as Controller of Arts and Entertainment and currently as Head of Programmes (Nations and Regions).

Education

Cosgrove graduated in Drama and English from the University of Hull and has studied at George Mason University, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Wharton Business School. He has a Ph.D. in Media (the thesis published as part of the book Theatres of the Left, 1880-1935) and a Doctorate in English and American Studies. He has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts by the University of Abertay Dundee and honorary professorships by the University of Stirling and Liverpool John Moores University.

Career

In Scotland, Cosgrove is probably best known as the co-host of BBC Radio Scotland's popular comedy football phone-in Off the Ball which he presents twice a week with Tam Cowan, and as the co-host of BBC Scotland's Saturday football Sportscene results show. Born and brought up in Perth, but living now in Dennistoun, he is an avid fan of the city's football club St Johnstone. He also wrote a book, Hampden Babylon, revealing the seedier side of the Scottish football scene.

In 2007 and 2008 he presented "Stuart Cosgrove's Floorfillers" on BBC Radio Scotland, dedicated to Northern Soul music, of which he is a fan.

His "Haha, Fantastic, ye cannae beat it" quote is used by satirist and impressionist Jonathan Watson.

Bibliography

• Theatres of the Left, 1880-1935, Workers' Theatre Movements in Britain and America, by Raphael Samuel, Ewan MacColl and Stuart Cosgrove. 1985. ISBN 0-7100-0901-1
• Flogging a Dead Horse: Heritage Culture and Its Role in Post-industrial Britain. Manchester: Cornerhouse, 1993. ISBN 0-948797-52-5. With photographs by Paul Reas and an afterword by Val Williams.