Colin MacKay
- November 10, 2023
About Colin MacKay
Colin MacKay, 79, Scottish journalist (BBC Radio Scotland, Scottish Television).
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Full Biography
|Colin Hinshelwood MacKay (27 August 1944 – 10 November 2023) was a Scottish journalist who served as political editor of STV for nineteen years. He also worked in radio broadcasting for sixteen years.
Early life and education
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay was born in Glasgow on 27 August 1944. His mother Charlotte was a housewife and his father was Charles MacKay, a doctor of midwifery and gynecology who served as group medical superintendent of Glasgow's Southern General Hospital for twenty years before his death in 1963. MacKay had two brothers, Charles and Stewart, and grew up within the hospital grounds.
MacKay was educated at Kelvinside Academy and later published a book on the school. While studying there, he became lifelong friends with Alan Rodger (later Lord Rodger of Earlsferry), the son of his father's colleague Ferguson Rodger.
After leaving school, he studied at Jordanhill College of Education. He later studied at the University of Glasgow, joining the university's Liberal Club and debating society through Glasgow University Union, becoming convener of the latter group. In March 1967, he and his teammate Matthew J. McQueen won the National Union of Students' competition for the Observer Mace, making them the sixth team from the university to do so. Following their victory, MacKay embarked on a British Information Services-sponsored tour of Canada with a new teammate.
MacKay was awarded a Master of Arts degree in 1966 with honours in English, before studying for a diploma in education.
Career
In 1967, MacKay began working for Border Television as a reporter and presenter. After three years at Border, he joined Grampian Television.
Following James Gordon's exit in 1973, MacKay became the second political editor of STV. In the same year, he began hosting the channel's politics programme Ways and Means. After he left that role in 1986, he began reporting on the British Parliament from London. From 1990, he was the lead presenter on Scottish Questions.
From 1988 until 1994, he sat on the board of the Scottish Arts Council.
Radio career
After leaving STV in 1992, MacKay began a sixteen-year radio career, starting as the presenter of Talk-In Sunday on Radio Clyde. He later joined BBC Radio Scotland where he hosted a weekly politics show called People and Power. He then hosted Politics Tonight for the same radio station.
In 1997, he was named BT Scottish Radio News Broadcaster of the Year.
Later career
MacKay retired from front-line journalism in December 2008. He continued to work freelance with the BBC, handling viewer complaints, until weeks before his death in November 2023.
Personal life
MacKay married Olive Brownlie in 1982 and had two sons, David and Andrew.
Death and legacy
MacKay died on 10 November 2023, at the age of 79.
In the aftermath of his death, many fellow journalists paid tribute, including Fiona Ross, and Bernard Ponsonby. Colin Mackay, STV's political editor who shared his name and former position, stated that he was "very sad" at his death and that he was a "great broadcaster, interviewer, and lovely person." He was remembered by several politicians, including former first minister Alex Salmond, Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, Jim Sillars and former prime minister Gordon Brown. Richard Rose, a prominent political scientist in Scotland, also paid tribute.
Published works
- Kelvinside Academy, 1878–1978 (1978)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_MacKay_(journalist%2C_born_1944)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Colin MacKay's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Colin Hinshelwood MacKay born?
- A.Aberdeen
- B.Edinburgh
- C.Dundee
- D.Glasgowcorrect
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay was born in Glasgow on 27 August 1944.
Source: Early life and education section
2.What was the profession of Colin Hinshelwood MacKay's father, Charles?
- A.Midwifery and gynecology doctorcorrect
- B.Architect
- C.Journalist
- D.Lawyer
Charles MacKay was a doctor of midwifery and gynecology who served as a hospital superintendent.
Source: Early life and education section
3.Which school did Colin Hinshelwood MacKay attend during his youth?
- A.University of Edinburgh
- B.Kelvinside Academycorrect
- C.Glasgow Academy
- D.St. Andrews High
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay was educated at Kelvinside Academy and later wrote a book about the school.
Source: Early life and education section
4.In what year did Colin Hinshelwood MacKay win the Observer Mace competition?
- A.1963
- B.1970
- C.1967correct
- D.1966
In March 1967, Colin Hinshelwood MacKay and his teammate won the National Union of Students' competition for the Observer Mace.
Source: Early life and education section
5.For which television station did Colin Hinshelwood MacKay start his career as a reporter and presenter in 1967?
- A.Border Televisioncorrect
- B.STV
- C.BBC Scotland
- D.Grampian Television
In 1967, Colin Hinshelwood MacKay began working for Border Television as a reporter and presenter.
Source: Career section
6.How long did Colin Hinshelwood MacKay serve as the political editor of STV?
- A.Twelve years
- B.Nineteen yearscorrect
- C.Sixteen years
- D.Twenty-one years
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay served as political editor of STV for nineteen years.
Source: Introduction
7.What was the title of the politics programme Colin Hinshelwood MacKay began hosting for STV in 1973?
- A.People and Power
- B.Talk-In Sunday
- C.Ways and Meanscorrect
- D.Politics Tonight
In 1973, Colin Hinshelwood MacKay began hosting the STV politics programme titled Ways and Means.
Source: Career section
8.From 1988 to 1994, on which board did Colin Hinshelwood MacKay serve?
- A.Glasgow University Union
- B.BBC Trust
- C.Scottish Arts Councilcorrect
- D.British Information Services
From 1988 until 1994, Colin Hinshelwood MacKay sat on the board of the Scottish Arts Council.
Source: Career section
9.Which radio station broadcast the show People and Power hosted by Colin Hinshelwood MacKay?
- A.Radio Clyde
- B.BBC Radio Scotlandcorrect
- C.Border Radio
- D.Grampian Radio
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay joined BBC Radio Scotland where he hosted a weekly politics show called People and Power.
Source: Radio career section
10.For which award was Colin Hinshelwood MacKay named the recipient in 1997?
- A.BT Scottish Radio News Broadcaster of the Yearcorrect
- B.Political Reporter of the Year
- C.Broadcaster of the Decade
- D.Scottish Journalist of the Year
In 1997, Colin Hinshelwood MacKay was named BT Scottish Radio News Broadcaster of the Year.
Source: Radio career section
11.In what year was Colin Hinshelwood MacKay's book about Kelvinside Academy published?
- A.1967
- B.1973
- C.1978correct
- D.1986
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay published the book Kelvinside Academy, 1878–1978 in 1978.
Source: Published works section
12.When did Colin Hinshelwood MacKay retire from front-line journalism?
- A.November 2010
- B.January 2009
- C.March 2012
- D.December 2008correct
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay retired from front-line journalism in December 2008.
Source: Later career section
13.Who was Colin Hinshelwood MacKay's spouse?
- A.Janet McQueen
- B.Olive Brownliecorrect
- C.Fiona Ross
- D.Charlotte MacKay
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay married Olive Brownlie in 1982.
Source: Personal life section
14.How many sons did Colin Hinshelwood MacKay have?
- A.One
- B.Three
- C.Four
- D.Twocorrect
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay had two sons named David and Andrew.
Source: Personal life section
15.What was the age of Colin Hinshelwood MacKay at the time of his death?
- A.79correct
- B.81
- C.75
- D.77
Colin Hinshelwood MacKay died on 10 November 2023, at the age of 79.
Source: Death and legacy section
16.Which former politician paid tribute to Colin Hinshelwood MacKay after his death?
- A.Alex Salmondcorrect
- B.Tony Blair
- C.Nicola Sturgeon
- D.John Major
Former first minister Alex Salmond was among the politicians who remembered Colin Hinshelwood MacKay.
Source: Death and legacy section
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