My top five... female news presenters

You’re so vain; I bet you think this song is about you...

They say the camera puts on ten pounds and after spending the last two weeks learning with the great @carollowe98 (from the BBC) about TV interviewing I can assure you it’s true.

Both girls and boys in my broadcast journalism class have spent the fortnight discussing hair, make-up, clothes, their weight and colours to wear.

Having discussed about how every female newsreader we admire has short hair, I have evolved from a long haired lover from Liverpool...

To...

So to honour those women who have inspired me to chop off my locks I have compiled my top five female news readers and presenters.


1) Sian Williams

Sian Williams co-presents BBC Breakfast with Bill Turnbull. Having started in local BBC radio (including

Manchester and Liverpool) as a producer and reporter, Sian rose to national radio and then TV.


I like Sian’s manner she always seems so friendly and I like that her and Bill seem to have the same sense of humour.

I was saddened to hear that Sian (along with BBC Breakfast reporter Chris Hollins) will not be moving to BBC Media City.

Her agent said the move was not an issue but that Williams wanted a break from the show's early starts.

2) Alex Jones

Although not technically a news reader, I enjoy watching Alex on the BBC’s One show. She appears relaxed and fun on the show and handles the guests well.

Alex began as TV researcher before being asked to try out presenting.

She worked for BBC Choice and S4C and in 2010 was announced as the new presenter of the ONE Show, replacing Christine Bleakley.

On a lighter note, Alex has great hair and is currently performing in Strictly Come Dancing.

3) Natasha Kaplinsky

You have to admire Natasha’s career having worked as a journalist/presenter for the BBC, ITV and Sky News.

Natasha started her career on a youth chat show for Granada, in 1999 she moved to ITV in London and then in 2000 bagged

the Sunrise and Live at Five presenting job at Sky.

She then moved to the BBC presenting a variety of shows including BBC Breakfast and the 10 O’clock news.

Then......over to Channel 5 for an alleged salary of more than £300,000, before leaving after having a baby.

It was announced this year that she would present some shows for ITN, providing maternity leave for Nina Hussain.

Phew... oh and she won the first series of Strictly Come Dancing back in 2004.

4) Moira Stewart – BBC Radio 2

Moira was the first black newsreader to appear on British television and has worked on several BBC programmes.

In 2007, she lost her presenting slot on Sunday AM, which provoked a backlash of ageism and sexism complaints.

Although the reasons for her decision to quit the BBC were varied, it is hard industry to grow old in and I fully agree with what Moira done.

She is an inspirational female and I hope my career spans as long as hers.

She currently reads the news on Chris Evans’ breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 and was awarded an OBE.

5) Angela Rippon

Angela was the first female to regularly present national news on the TV.

She began her career at BBC South West before becoming a reporter for BBC TV news. She has further presented shows such as Antiques Roadshow, Top Gear, Rip Off Britain and even the European Song Contest.

Angela to students will be known for TV show Cash in the Attic – a day time classic. She currently presents ‘Rippon’s Britain’ a feature on the BBC’s ONE show.

She has also expressed her views on ageism/sexism at the BBC saying “The British public doesn’t give a toss about the age or sex of a presenter as long as that presenter is doing a good job.”

Angela is an OBE and is a patron of the old time dance society. She also took part in Dancing on Ice in 2010, aged 66 – what a legend.

I decided to keep with national presenters but there are so many great regional female TV presenters who I admire. If I could have a slice of each of their careers I would be a happy broadcast journalist.

There is one stand out feature on the road to success as a presenter – make sure you appear in a reality TV dance show (Jones, Kaplinsky, Rippon). Best get practicing now!