Investigative journalist Roger Cook dies at 83

Roger Cook, the renowned investigative journalist celebrated for his innovative doorstep interview method, passed away peacefully at 83 following a brief illness, as confirmed by his family, who remembered him as a cherished husband and father. Tributes poured in from ITV, which aired The Cook Report from 1987 to 1999, commending his trailblazing techniques that established him as a trusted name in broadcasting. Cook received a Bafta special award for 25 years of exceptional investigative journalism, relentlessly uncovering crime and injustice, which led to significant legal reforms. Originally from New Zealand and raised in Australia, he relocated to the UK in the late 1960s, contributing to BBC Radio 4 before launching The Cook Report. His confrontational methods often resulted in violence, including broken ribs in 1981 and numerous hospitalizations. At its height, his investigations attracted over 12 million viewers, revealing issues such as child abuse, protection rackets, and the illicit ivory trade. He authored several books, including his autobiography, Dangerous Ground, and his style was humorously imitated by comedians like Reeves and Mortimer and Sir Stephen Fry.