Memorial: Roger Laughton

A service of thanksgiving for the life of Roger Laughton will take place at St Bride’s Church, the Journalists’ Church, on Thursday 5th February at 11:30am to honour a man whose work enriched national life and whose family has been part of our congregation for 25 years.

Laughton, who died in late August aged 83, was a widely respected figure in British broadcasting whose work helped shape the BBC and ITV through the late twentieth century.

After studying at Oxford and Stanford, he joined the BBC as a general trainee and went on to contribute to programmes including Nationwide, Pebble Mill and the influential Brass Tacks.

He played a key role in bringing Live Aid to air in 1985 and later launched the BBC’s first daytime schedule, making the inspired decision to acquire Neighbours, which became a defining part of British popular culture.

Laughton later helped secure the ITV franchise for Meridian and served in senior roles within United Broadcasting and Entertainment.

Admired for his calm judgement and commitment to public‑minded broadcasting, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and appointed CBE in 2000.

Additional Information

Directions to St Bride’s Church and information about accessibility are available on our Visit Us page.

Photo credit: BBC