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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Journalist John Freeman dies at 99 | Journalist John Freeman dies at 99 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The diplomat and journalist John Freeman has died at the age of 99. | The diplomat and journalist John Freeman has died at the age of 99. |
| In a varied career, Mr Freeman was perhaps best known for his interviews for BBC television series Face to Face. | In a varied career, Mr Freeman was perhaps best known for his interviews for BBC television series Face to Face. |
| He was also a decorated soldier, editor of the New Statesman magazine, Labour MP, UK high commissioner to India, Britain's ambassador in Washington and chairman of London Weekend Television. | He was also a decorated soldier, editor of the New Statesman magazine, Labour MP, UK high commissioner to India, Britain's ambassador in Washington and chairman of London Weekend Television. |
| His interviewees for Face to Face included Martin Luther King, Bertrand Russell and Stirling Moss. | His interviewees for Face to Face included Martin Luther King, Bertrand Russell and Stirling Moss. |
| Mr Freeman was MP for Watford from 1945-55, and made his first speech in the House of Commons on August 16, 1945. He had served in World War Two, and Parliamentary records show Major Freeman wore his military uniform. | |
| The war was effectively over - Germany had surrendered and the two atomic bombs had been dropped on Japan - and he spoke about the aftermath of the conflict. | The war was effectively over - Germany had surrendered and the two atomic bombs had been dropped on Japan - and he spoke about the aftermath of the conflict. |
| Ending his speech, he said: "We have before us a battle for the peace, no less arduous and no less momentous than the battle we have lived through in the last six years. | Ending his speech, he said: "We have before us a battle for the peace, no less arduous and no less momentous than the battle we have lived through in the last six years. |
| "Today the strategy begins to unfold itself. Today, we go into action. Today may rightly be regarded as 'D-Day' in the Battle of the New Britain." | "Today the strategy begins to unfold itself. Today, we go into action. Today may rightly be regarded as 'D-Day' in the Battle of the New Britain." |
| Mr Freeman interviewed many well-known figures for Face to Face, which ran on the BBC from 1959-62. | Mr Freeman interviewed many well-known figures for Face to Face, which ran on the BBC from 1959-62. |
| According to a 2013 New Statesman article, Mr Freeman said it was "extremely tiresome" being treated as a celebrity as a result of the Face to Face interviews. | |
| He took the role of editor of the New Statesman in 1961. | |
| The article says he was "no respecter of office", adding that he referred to Prime Minister Harold Wilson as a "little runt". | |
| Mr Freeman became "bored with the New Statesman after just four years as editor", and got the job of high commissioner to India in 1965, the article adds. |