Background
Pettifer was born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, and was educated at Marlborough College and Street John"s College, Cambridge.
Pettifer was born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, and was educated at Marlborough College and Street John"s College, Cambridge.
Street John"s College.
He was President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and is Vice President of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. Pettifer started work in television during the early days of Independent Television, as one of the original Southern Television announcers in 1958. He later moved to the British Broadcasting Corporation as a globe-trotting reporter for programmes such as Tonight, 24 Hours and Panorama.
He was the host for the British television show Busman"s Holiday (game show) from 1985 to 1988.
The show was produced by Granada Television and ran on the Independent Television network. Pettifer also wrote and presented a number of documentaries for both British Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Television, including Diamonds in the Sky, on the subject of international air traveling
Automania, a history of the motor car, and Missionaries. A growing interest in the environment led to him writing and presenting programmes about the environment and wildlife including Naturewatch for Central Television, Nature, and The Living Isles for the British Broadcasting Corporation. He continued to report on current affairs, contributing reports for British Broadcasting Corporation Two"s Assignment and Correspondent programmes, and a highly-praised film for Channel 4 that re-examined the reporting of the Vietnam war.
He presented British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4"s Asiafile and now presents their Crossing Continents.
Pettifer was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 Birthday.