Richard Quest Is Back, But Not On Camera

Philip Stone July 15, 2008

Richard Quest is back, starting off slowly as he gets back into his travel reporting for the CNN International. He did a voiceover on the demise of independent all-business class airlines in Europe, but he did not appear on camera.

Quest, 46,  has been off the air since April when he was arrested for loitering in New York’s Central Park at 3:43 a.m, a misdemeanor because the park is closed between 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Quest allegedly admitted to having methamphetamines in his pocket -- an amount small enough to be considered for personal use and not for sale so it was a misdemeanor rather than a felony that could have resulted in serious jail time. A quick deal worked out with the District Attorney’s office, accepted by the judge, ordered Quest to undergo therapy for six months and if he passed the course then the case would be sealed and not remain part of his official record

That would have been that except the New York Post, owned by Rupert Murdoch who in turn owns Fox News which in turn is in deep competition with CNN, then dished out the “dirt” emphasizing lurid details of what  Quest was wearing under his clothes and how it was worn, and what he had hidden in one boot --  information that if true was truly embarrassing but personal and there was no law broken, no charges filed on that. But it was those details that media around the world splashed.

There was a deafening silence for a while from CNN at the time, but then it released a short terse statement saying, “Richard Quest has entered a drug rehabilitation facility. At this time, CNN's primary concern is for his health and well being. We look forward to Richard returning to CNN International.” Now a CNN spokesman says, “We're very pleased to have him back."

He is in London producing some segments and doing voice-overs.  Quest, besides doing most of CNNI’s travel news reporting, had also hosted Business Traveller, a monthly program skewed at the global business traveller, and he also  “starred” in Quest, a one-hour monthly program which saw the reporter getting personally involved in the subject matter – how to be a magician, a male model, a dancer etc.

While he was in rehab Business Traveller has appeared with other CNN anchors and reporters – were they auditioning?  Quest is thought to be returning for the August program. No word on what happens to his one-hour “Quest” program.

The British-born reporter is popular to CNN viewers globally because his reporting style is so different – more natural if you will, somewhat over the top at times. One such memorable occasion came when he appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 covering Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the US last year. Standing outside the British embassy in Washington, Quest, particularly hyper that night with his arms flinging all over the place, ended his piece by having a butler pour him a glass of champagne and he then, in a toast to the camera, told Cooper who just could not stop laughing, “As Helen Mirren said when she received her Oscar for playing the Queen, I give you The Queen”. All very unorthodox TV news reporting. All very Richard Quest.

It seems CNN is taking its cue from the court that treated the entire episode as a medical issue – since the charges will be sealed if he completes his drug therapy course then that would satisfy CNN, too. The judge had specified that Quest returns to court  in six months but since he is back at work in just three months perhaps that  is part of his therapy as he begins to undertake his CNN duties without too much pressure..

Business Traveller has maintained its sponsorship – mostly from Middle East companies – during Quest’s sojourn. The Post’s revelations will not have been appreciated by those sponsors but we shall have to wait and see what effect, if any, that has on Quest’s return.