Bart Frederikus de Graaff (Dutch pronunciation: [bɑrt ˌfreːdəˈrikʏs də ɣraːf]; 16 April 1967 – 25 May 2002) was an influential Dutch television presenter, comedian and creator, as well as the founder and chairman of the public broadcasting network BNN.

Early life

Bart Frederikus de Graaff was born on 16 April 1967 in Haarlem in the Netherlands.

Because of a car accident in his youth, De Graaff suffered from serious renal failure for most of his life. This also caused a growth disorder which made him look like a twelve-year-old boy. In his career as a television presenter he often used this fact to his advantage.

Career

In 1997, he founded a public broadcasting network, Bart's News Network (BNN). After his death, it was renamed to Bart's Neverending Network. Targeted at a youthful audience, the network quickly became known for its sometimes provocative programming. Bart de Graaff also made a radio station called 3FM. A television show De Grote Donorshow (The Big Donor Show) by BNN won an Emmy award for Best Non-scripted Entertainment.