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David Frost on Al-Jazeera

Jane Martinson— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

LONDON: Veteran British broadcaster Sir David Frost is to present a live weekly current affairs programme for Al-Jazeera International, the English-language version of the controversial Arab broadcaster early next year.

The only man to have interviewed the last seven American Presidents and six British Prime Ministers said on Thursday that his new employers had guaranteed complete editorial freedom over the show, which is to be produced by his own production company, Paradine Productions.

``The delightful thing is that they wanted to put a clause into the contract that there will be no censorship,'' he said, adding that the assurances of the largely British management team had been ``totally believable'' anyway.

Al-Jazeera International will be based in London with operations in Washington, the Qatari capital, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur when it launches next year. Piggybacking on the success of its parent company for creating a global brand in just a few years, it aims to offer a ``360-degree perspective'' on global news.

However, the Doha-based company has been accused of glorifying terrorism, particularly in the U.S., by showing beheadings and the excesses of suicide bombers. Sir David said on Thursday that reports of beheadings on the channel were a ``myth''.

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