After 13 years with the BBC, Peter Sissons has become one of the best-known faces on British TV.

Born in Liverpool in 1942, he attended the Liverpool Institute High School before reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics at University College, Oxford.

He was given an RTS award for his work on Channel 4 news

In 1964 he joined ITN as a writer, becoming a reporter in 1967.

He earned his foreign correspondent's spurs in Biafra in 1968, where he was wounded by gunfire.

In 1969 he was appointed ITN's news editor, becoming industrial correspondent a year later, and industrial editor in 1972.

His first role as a news anchor came in 1978, when he began presenting ITN's News At One.

Awards

When Channel 4 was launched in 1982 he was chosen to present their 7pm news programme and in 1984 he was named by the Broadcasting Press Guild as the Best Front Of Camera Performer.

During his time as anchor, Channel Four News won three consecutive BAFTA awards, and in 1988 he was awarded the Royal Television Society's Judges Awards for his work on the programme.

He stayed with the Six O'Clock News for five years

Mr Sissons joined the BBC in 1989 as presenter of Question Time, the BBC's weekly political discussion forum, as well as joint presenter of the BBC's Six O'clock News.

He moved to The Nine O'Clock News in January 1994 and stayed with the programme when it moved to its new time of 10pm.

In April he was heavily criticised in some sections of the press for wearing a burgundy-coloured tie - rather than mourning black - when breaking the news of the Queen Mother's death.

Mr Sissons responded to charges of "insensitivity" by saying that he had received a large number of telephone calls and e-mails from viewers praising the BBC's coverage of the event.

He is married with three children and lives in Kent.