Hugh Whittow
Whittow worked for the Western Telegraph and the South Wales Echo, before moving to London to work on the London Evening News, and then the Daily Star. In the mid-1980s, he joined The Sun, where he became known for obtaining scoops. In October 1986, Whittow became one of the first journalists to report that Queen singer Freddie Mercury could be suffering from AIDS, just a couple of months after his final live performance with the band at Knebworth Park. Whittow approached Mercury at Heathrow Airport where he was returning from a shopping trip to Japan. Mercury denied that he had a sexual disease.[1]
Hugh Whittow is a British newspaper editor.
In 1987, Whittow travelled to Spain with a brief to purchase a donkey which was due to be beaten as part of a fiesta, and send it to a sanctuary in the UK. However, a Daily Star journalist achieved this before him, and his newspaper taunted The Sun over this in a front-page story. Soon after, Whittow returned to the Star.[2]
Whittow became deputy editor of the Daily Star, and edited the Daily Star Sunday from its launch until 2003, then became Deputy Editor of the Daily Express. In February 2011, he was promoted to become Editor of the paper.[2] He retired from his role at the Express at the beginning of March 2018.[3]
References
- Do I Look Like I'm Dying Of Aids? Fumes Freddie. The Sun. 18 October 1986.
- Tara Conlan, "Hugh Whittow rides to Express top job despite Blackie the Donkey", The Guardian, 8 February 2011
- Mayhew, Freddy (1 March 2018). "All change as Daily Express and Daily Star editors leave following Trinity Mirror buyout". Pres Gazette. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New position |
Editor of the Daily Star Sunday 2002–2003 |
Succeeded by Gareth Morgan |
| Preceded by Nicola Briggs |
Deputy Editor of the Daily Express 2003–2011 |
Succeeded by Michael Booker |
| Preceded by Peter Hill |
Editor of the Daily Express 2011–2018 |
Succeeded by Gary Jones |