TV newsreader legend Brian Henderson dead at 89

The veteran Nine Network newsreader, who fronted the Sydney news for 46 years, has died after a battle with cancer at the age of 89.

Channel 9 newsreader Brian Henderson preparing to read the news for the last time before his retirement in 2002. Picture: Nathan Edwards

In his later years, Brian Henderson was regularly stopped in the street by ladies of a certain vintage eager to chat to the man who had been a regular presence in their lives for almost five decades.

For some, he was forever the fresh-faced New Zealand-born 20-something who first appeared on Australia’s TV screens in 1957 as host of the nation’s inaugural music and variety show, Bandstand, introducing popular music to the pre-Beatles generation.

For others, he was the calm, reassuring bespectacled figure who delivered Sydney’s most-watched 6pm news bulletin for decades.

“That’s the way it is,” was his trademark sign-off at the end of every newscast, and millions of viewers trusted him.

#BREAKING: Legendary Channel Nine news host Brian Henderson has died, aged 89. #9Todaypic.twitter.com/k4XC6JxeqJ

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) August 4, 2021

Henderson, universally known as “Hendo”, died on Thursday morning, aged 89, after a long battle with cancer.

His remarkable media career ended upon his retirement in 2002, though he remained a newsman to the end.

Current anchor of Nine’s 6pm Sydney bulletin, Peter Overton, said even after Henderson retired, he would regularly offer his thoughts and advice on the network’s coverage, “but always in his generous, understated way”.

“I would regularly meet him for morning tea, and he’d always have a notepad of ideas … he’d say ‘Perhaps we need to add a bit of polish there’, and ‘Have you thought about this, or that?’” Overton said.

Television presenter Brian Henderson is best known for fronting Nine News for 46 years.

“Even at 89, he was still so ­invested in the news, and in the success of the news.

“He was very generous of spirit in that way. He was the ultimate craftsman.”

Henderson twice won the Gold Logie – the highest honour in Australian television.

He first won the award in 1968 as the ­nation’s most popular television personality, and received a second, honorary Gold Logie in 2013 when he was inducted into the Logies hall of fame.

He still holds the Australian record for the longest-serving television news presenter, having read either the Sydney weeknight or weekend news on Channel 9 from January 1957 until November 2002.

Nine chairman Peter Costello said: “Brian Henderson was the best of the best, he was iconic — the ultimate professional and the trusted face of television news for generations of Australians. He was trusted, he had a warmth that he brought into the living rooms of millions of Australians.”

Kerry Packer and Brian Henderson in Sydney in 2002. Picture: Noel Kessel.

When Henderson retired in 2002, the network’s then-owner Kerry Packer farewelled him thus: “When Brian Henderson started reading the news on Nine, (Sir Robert) Menzies was prime minister, Reg Ansett bought an airline for £3.3m and the Russians launched Sputnik.

“Brian Henderson has been a constant reassuring presence through crisis and change.”

In 2009, Henderson was named a Member of the Order of Australia for “service as a pioneer in the television news and ­entertainment sectors, and as a mentor to aspiring and established ­presenters, readers and journalists”.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph last year, Henderson said he did not fear death.

“I’ve had a great life and I’m still enjoying it.

“My only concern is for (wife) Mardi, who may be a bit lonely when I’m gone. I’m not afraid of death – in fact I welcome it.

“I’ve had a wonderful life. How blessed can you be?”

Henderson is survived by Mardi, his wife of more than 50 years, a son and a daughter from his first marriage, and two daughters, Jodie and Nicole, from his second.