MORE than 40 years in broadcasting has earned hard-hitting interviewer David Frost a knighthood, an OBE and the friendship of presidents and prime ministers alike.

He is the only person to have interviewed the past six British prime ministers and the past seven American presidents.

The one time stand up comic started his television career in the early 1960s, presenting BBC satire show That was the Week That Was.

Frost also presented witty BBC comedy series The Frost Report (1966-67) before making a name for himself as a tough interviewer on The Frost Programme (ITV, 1966-68; 1972-73) His confrontation with the head of a collapsed insurance company gave rise to the phrase "trial by television."

Frost went on to front numerous current affairs and entertainment shows including Good Morning Britain (ITV, 1983-92 Through the Keyhole most recently Breakfast With Frost (BBC, 1993-2005). He has managed to secure the first meeting with Nelson Mandela, the first interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the only interview with Tony Blair and Bill Clinton together.

Since broadcasting his final Breakfast With Frost in May 2005, he has been invited to join Al Jazeera International, a 24-hour English-language, Arab-owned news station.

Name: David Frost Occupation: Television presenter Date of Birth: 7 April, 1939 Local link: Has a home in Romsey