He was deeply involved in the fight to preserve the editorial independence of the BBC in Northern Ireland after the so-called "Real Lives" controversy when Margaret Thatcher's cabinet called for a current affairs programme to be pulled from the schedule. Hawthorne's stance in standing up to government pressure, at no small cost to himself, makes him one of the most significant figures in the story of UK broadcasting in the latter half of the twentieth century.
He was deeply involved in defending the BBC's editorial independence in Northern Ireland after a controversy over a current affairs program called "Real Lives."  Hawthorne stood up to government pressure, even at personal cost, making him one of the most important figures in British broadcasting history during the latter half of the 20th century.