Rise to Success: Career Highlights of David Frost

Discover the career path of David Frost, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Sir David Frost was a prominent English television host, journalist, comedian, and writer. He gained fame hosting the satirical show *That Was the Week That Was* in the 1960s and transitioned to American television. He's best known for his in-depth television interviews with leading political figures, most notably the 1977 interviews with former US President Richard Nixon, which were later adapted into a play and film. Frost interviewed every British Prime Minister from 1964 to 2013 and all but two American Presidents from 1969 to 2008, solidifying his legacy as a significant figure in broadcast journalism.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1958: Studies at Cambridge

In 1958, David Frost studied at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he was editor of both the university's student paper, Varsity, and the literary magazine Granta. He also appeared on Anglia Television's Town And Gown.

1962: Host of That Was the Week That Was

In 1962, David Frost rose to prominence during the satire boom in the United Kingdom when he was chosen to host the satirical programme That Was the Week That Was.

1963: Serialised Memoirs of Christine Keeler

Around July 1969, David Frost interviewed Rupert Murdoch whose recently acquired Sunday newspaper, the News of the World, had just serialised the memoirs of Christine Keeler, a central figure in the Profumo scandal of 1963.

January 1964: American TW3 Series

Starting on 10 January 1964, an American version of That Was the Week That Was, also featuring Frost, ran on NBC.

1964: Interviewing British Prime Ministers

From 1964 until his death in 2013, David Frost interviewed all eight British prime ministers, beginning with Alec Douglas-Home.

1966: The Frost Report

In 1966, David Frost fronted various programmes following the success of TW3, including The Frost Report, which was broadcast between 1966 and 1967.

1966: David Paradine Ltd

In the late 1960s Frost began an intermittent involvement in the film industry. Setting up David Paradine Ltd in 1966, he part-financed The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970), in which the lead character was based partly on Frost, and gained an executive producer credit.

1967: The Frost Report

In 1967, David Frost fronted various programmes following the success of TW3, including The Frost Report, which was broadcast between 1966 and 1967.

1967: ITV Franchise Bid

In 1967, David Frost was a member of a successful consortium that bid for an ITV franchise.

July 1968: London Weekend Television Broadcasting

In July 1968, London Weekend Television, which Frost was involved with, began broadcasting.

1968: Contract with American Television

In 1968, David Frost signed a contract worth £125,000 to appear on American television in his own show.

July 1969: David Frost's Moon Party

On 20 and 21 July 1969, during the British television Apollo 11 coverage, David Frost presented David Frost's Moon Party for LWT, a ten-hour discussion and entertainment marathon.

1969: The David Frost Show

From 1969 to 1972, David Frost kept his London shows and fronted The David Frost Show on the Group W television stations in the U.S.

1969: Interviewing American Presidents

From 1969 to 2008, David Frost interviewed all seven American presidents in office, beginning with the president in 1969.

1970: Frost on America TV Special

In 1970, David Frost's TV special, Frost on America, featured guests such as Jack Benny and Tennessee Williams.

1970: The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

1972: The David Frost Show

From 1969 to 1972, David Frost kept his London shows and fronted The David Frost Show on the Group W television stations in the U.S.

1974: Interview with Muhammad Ali

In 1974, David Frost interviewed heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali at his training camp in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, before "The Rumble in the Jungle" with George Foreman.

1974: Nixon's Resignation

In 1977, the Nixon interviews, former U.S. President Richard Nixon expressed contrition regarding his role in the Watergate scandal that had led to his resignation as president in 1974.

1976: Executive Producer of The Slipper and the Rose

In 1976, David Frost was the executive producer of the British musical film The Slipper and the Rose, retelling the story of Cinderella.

1977: Nixon Interviews

In 1977, David Frost became known for his television interviews with senior political figures, including the Nixon interviews with US president Richard Nixon.

1977: Broadcast of the Nixon Interviews

In 1977, the Nixon interviews, which were five 90-minute interviews with former U.S. President Richard Nixon, were broadcast after being funded by Frost himself.

1979: Music for UNICEF Concert

In 1979, David Frost was an organiser of the Music for UNICEF Concert at the United Nations General Assembly.

January 1980: Interview with the Shah of Iran

In January 1980, David Frost was the last person to interview Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the deposed Shah of Iran, on Contadora Island in Panama.

February 1983: Launch of TV-am

In February 1983, David Frost was one of the "Famous Five" who launched TV-am.

September 1983: Frost on Sunday

In September 1983, Frost on Sunday began and continued until the station lost its franchise at the end of 1992.

1983: Launch of TV-am

In 1983, David Frost was one of the people behind the launch of ITV station TV-am.

1985: That Was the Year That Was

In 1985, David Frost produced and hosted a television special in the same format as TW3, called That Was the Year That Was, on NBC.

1991: CPV-TV Consortium

In 1991, David Frost had been part of an unsuccessful consortium, CPV-TV, which had attempted to acquire three ITV contractor franchises.

1992: End of Frost on Sunday

In September 1983, Frost on Sunday began and continued until the station lost its franchise at the end of 1992.

January 1993: Breakfast with Frost on BBC

From January 1993 until 29 May 2005, David Frost's Sunday morning interview programme Breakfast with Frost ran on the BBC.

1993: Host of Breakfast with Frost

From 1993 to 2005, David Frost hosted the Sunday morning interview programme Breakfast with Frost for the BBC.

May 2005: End of Breakfast with Frost on BBC

From January 1993 until 29 May 2005, David Frost's Sunday morning interview programme Breakfast with Frost ran on the BBC.

November 2006: Launch of Frost Over The World

In November 2006, David Frost started presenting Frost Over The World, a live weekly hour-long current affairs programme for Al Jazeera English, when the network launched. The programme featured interviews with prominent figures such as Tony Blair and Benazir Bhutto.

2006: Host of Frost Over the World

From 2006 to 2012, David Frost hosted the weekly programme Frost Over the World on Al Jazeera English.

2006: Frost/Nixon stage production in London

In 2006, the stage production of Frost/Nixon, written by Peter Morgan and based on David Frost's interviews with Richard Nixon, was presented in London.

2008: Interviewing American Presidents

From 1969 to 2008, David Frost interviewed all seven American presidents in office, ending in 2008.

2008: Release of Frost/Nixon film adaptation

In 2008, the film adaptation of Frost/Nixon, directed by Ron Howard and starring Michael Sheen as David Frost and Frank Langella as Richard Nixon, was released. The film received several award nominations but did not win any.

February 2009: "The World According To Frost" on Foreign Correspondent

In February 2009, David Frost was featured on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's international affairs program Foreign Correspondent in a report titled "The World According To Frost," which reflected on his long career and his portrayal in the film Frost/Nixon.

2009: Interviewing Seven U.S. Presidents

By 2009, David Frost had interviewed all seven U.S. presidents in office between 1969 and 2009, including Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.