Gorg peresso biography

Aqra bil- Malti

Veteran broadcaster Ġorġ Peresso has announced that he will be retiring from live television commentary. His final broadcast will be today during the live transmission of the Good Friday procession from Bormla.

Ġorġ Peresso was first entrusted to do the commentary for live events around 40 years ago. His first commentary was during the Christmas midnight mass, however shortly afterwards he did the commentary for the Adoration of the Cross and the Good Friday procession. In 40 years, he has only missed doing the Good Friday commentary on Television Malta four times.

It was the head of programmes at the time, Charles Abela Mizzi who asked me to do the commentary for the midnight Mass, and then told me ‘now start preparing for the Good Friday commentary’. Charles Arrigo used to do it before that. I felt a bit intimidated to fill Charles Arrigo’s shoes, but it was he who helped me with these commentaries even though mine were completely different from the way they were done in the past. I link what is historical and traditional but I also like to give a commentary which is like a meditation, referring to current events, as if we are experiencing the passion of Christ today.

Ġorġ Peresso – Veteran broadcaster

The first Good Friday commentary by Ġorġ Peresso was from Zejtun. We asked him how he feels before every broadcast.

You always have that certain feeling as a broadcaster because it is live, but what is in my favour is that I have a preparation which is spiritual, biblical, historical, and even as an author I have ties to the passion of Good Friday. I have written more about the passion than about Christmas. Even my style is between a poet and a mystic, between being meditative and referring to current events. I feel that I am communicating, not simply giving a commentary which is disconnected from the picture I am seeing.

Ġorġ Peresso – Veteran broadcaster

Over the years, it has become clear that Ġorġ Peresso builds his commentary on a theme or a quote.

I have to say that I am not the same as I used to be, I do not see very well, so I will be helped by two very good broadcasters Joseph Galea and Celiane Bugeja Buhagiar. They will be joining me and will almost be my voice and our voice, because a commentator cannot be distant from what he is conveying, but has to form part of the same event.

Ġorġ Peresso – Veteran broadcaster

Ġorġ Peresso told us that he sees a link between his life and the fact that his last commentary will be for the Bormla Good Friday procession.

I am very content because I am a son of Cottonera, I was born in Birgu, raised in Bormla and have strong roots in this area. As we know the feasts in Cottonera are very much linked to Good Friday especially because of the tradition of the Knights. That is the paradox: because while I am withdrawing from this type of commentary, I am going back to where I began, my childhood and therefore I will be tying the parable of my life to this commentary.

Ġorġ Peresso – Veteran broadcaster

The transmission of the Adoration of the Cross will start at 3pm and the procession from Bormla starts at 5.30pm. This last commentary by Ġorġ Peresso before he retires from broadcasting will be on TVM.