Sean Rafferty

Born in Belfast, Rafferty was adopted as a child and grew up in Newcastle, County Down. His mother introduced him to music, encouraging him to accompany her on the piano by singing traditional Irish songs. However, music was not considered as a worthwhile career option, and he studied law at Queen’s University in Belfast, before becoming an accountant. He got into broadcasting by accident. Having heard that BBC Northern Ireland needed a researcher, he left his job and ended up working on Gloria Hunniford’s Sunday afternoon show.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, he was a familiar face on local television and radio, becoming one of the main presenters of the local news programmes Scene Around Six and later, Inside Ulster. He also presented arts shows including Prospect and 29 Bedford Street, before leaving Northern Ireland to work at BBC Radio 3. Known for his erudition, composure and deep knowledge of classical music, he quickly became a mainstay of In Tune – a programme whose eclectic mix of live and recorded elements requires a confident and fleet-footed host.