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 Paradine Frost was a prominent English television host, journalist, comedian, and writer. He gained fame in the 1960s hosting the satirical program *That Was the Week That Was*. Frost became renowned for his insightful television interviews with leading political figures. His most notable work included the 1977 interviews with former US President Richard Nixon, which were later adapted into a stage play and film. Over his career, Frost interviewed every British Prime Minister from 1964 to 2013, and all seven American Presidents in office from 1969 to 2008, solidifying his legacy as a significant figure in broadcast journalism.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1962: Hosting 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: The Profumo Scandal

Around 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: US version of That Was the Week That Was

On January 10, 1964, the 30-minute US series of That Was the Week That Was, also featuring Frost, ran on NBC.

1964: Interviewed British Prime Ministers

From 1964 onwards, David Frost interviewed all eight British prime ministers serving between 1964 and 2016.

May 1965: End of the US series of TW3

In May 1965, the US series of That Was the Week That Was ended its run on NBC.

1966: The Frost Report Broadcast

In 1966, The Frost Report started broadcasting, launching the television careers of John Cleese, Ronnie Barker, and Ronnie Corbett.

1966: Setting up David Paradine Ltd

In the late 1960s, specifically in 1966, David Frost began an intermittent involvement in the film industry, setting up David Paradine Ltd.

1967: Bid for an ITV franchise

In 1967, David Frost was a member of a successful consortium that bid for an ITV franchise, which became London Weekend Television.

1967: The Frost Report

In 1967, The Frost Report continued to broadcast.

July 1968: London Weekend Television Begins Broadcasting

In July 1968, London Weekend Television, which David Frost was involved in, 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, the largest such arrangement for a British television personality at the time.

July 1969: Apollo 11 Coverage

On July 20 and 21, 1969, during the British television Apollo 11 coverage, David Frost presented David Frost's Moon Party for LWT.

1969: Interviewed U.S. Presidents

From 1969 onwards, David Frost interviewed all seven U.S. presidents in office between 1969 and 2009.

1969: The David Frost Show

From 1969 to 1972, David Frost fronted The David Frost Show on the Group W (U.S. Westinghouse Corporation) television stations in the U.S.

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1970: Part-financing The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

In 1970, David Frost part-financed The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, gaining an executive producer credit.

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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.

1972: The David Frost Show

From 1969 to 1972, David Frost fronted The David Frost Show on the Group W (U.S. Westinghouse Corporation) television stations in the U.S.

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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 Interviews Preparations

In 1974, David Frost prepared for five 90-minute interviews with former U.S. President Richard Nixon. Nixon was paid $600,000 plus a share of the profits for the interviews.

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.

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1977: Frost interviews Richard Nixon

In 1977, David Frost conducted a series of interviews with Richard Nixon, which later served as the basis for the play "Frost/Nixon" by Peter Morgan.

1977: Nixon Interviews

In 1977, David Frost conducted television interviews with former U.S. President Richard Nixon. These interviews later were adapted into a stage play and film.

1977: Broadcast of Nixon Interviews

In 1977, the Nixon interviews, which were five 90-minute interviews with former U.S. President Richard Nixon, were broadcast.

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 interviewed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the deposed Shah of Iran, on Contadora Island in Panama. The interview was broadcast on January 17 by the American Broadcasting Company in the U.S.

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 Begins

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, 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, with Richard Branson and other interests, which had attempted to acquire three ITV contractor franchises.

1992: End of Frost on Sunday

David Frost's Frost on Sunday, that began in September 1983, continued until the station lost its franchise at the end of 1992.

January 1993: Breakfast with Frost on BBC

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

1993: Hosting 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

In May 2005, David Frost's Sunday morning interview programme Breakfast with Frost ended its run on the BBC.

November 2006: Launch of Frost Over The World

In November 2006, David Frost began presenting "Frost Over The World", a live, hour-long current affairs program on Al Jazeera English when the network launched. The program featured interviews with notable figures.

2006: Hosting Frost Over the World

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

2008: Interviewing American Presidents

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

February 2009: Featured on Foreign Correspondent

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