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Russell Harty (born Frederic Russell Harty 5 September 1934 to 8 june 1988) was a British Television Presenter. Born in Blackburn but with a distinctly camp turn of phrase he was grasped upon as a popular television personality. He got his first break presenting arts programme 'Aquarius' in 1970 that was designed as London Weekend Television's response to the BBC's "Omnibus". In 1973 he was given his own series "Russell Harty Plus" on ITV that placed him against the BBC's "Parkinson" doing in-depth celebrity interviews. The show lasted through 1981. In 1983 Harty moved to the BBC with an early evening celebrity chatshow which gained some attention when he was attacked by Grace Jones but the show was cancelled in 1985. Aside from a few guest appearances Harty struggled on for a few years. Ironically the BBC gave him the chance to interview Salvador Dali for a documentary series in 1987. The pair were dead within the year. Harty died of AIDS related hepatatis.
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