Peter Snow's Biography

He went to 18 different preparatory schools and did his National service from 1956 to 1958 in the Somerset Light infantry.

After finishing his degree at Balliol College, Oxford, Peter Snow joined ITN in 1962.

Four year later he became ITN's Diplomatic and Defence Correspondent. He also covered elections for ITN, but it was for his lively role in the BBC's General Election coverage for which he became best known.

Peter Snow joined the BBC in 1979 and became the first presenter of Newsnight when it began in 1980. It was not until 1997 that Peter Snow left Newsnight and started to present Tomorrow's World.

He discussed the evolution of Newsnight in an article entitled Newsnight, Snow and Sandpits.

Peter Snow with his 'swingometer' was a feature of BBC election coverage until 2005.

Meanwhile he amassed a variety of TV and radio credits for the BBC including hosting Brain of Britain, Random Edition and MasterTeam on Radio 4 and The Abyss and What the World Thinks of America on television.

Peter Snow also teamed up with his son Dan Snow to present Battlefield Britain and Great Battles on BBC Two.

In 2008 Peter Snow presented Brits Who Made The Modern World on Channel Five, and he was also selected to be one of the contestants on BBC Two's Maestro.

Peter Snow and his wife Ann MacMillan of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation have six children. Peter is the cousin of Channel Four News's Jon Snow.

Peter Snow was the first contender to be voted off BBC Two's Maestro.