Sophie Raworth

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Sophie Raworth
Image:Replace this image female.svg
Birth name Sophie Raworth
Born 15 May 1968 (1968-05-15) (age 40)
Birth place Yorkshire, England
Circumstances
Occupation Journalist, Presenter, Newsreader
Spouse Richard Winter (2003-present)
Ethnicity English
Notable credit(s) BBC News at One
BBC News at Six

Sophie Raworth (pronounced /'ɹeɪ.wəθ/) (born 15 May 1968) is an English news reader and television presenter who is currently on maternity leave from the BBC News at One.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Born to a florist mother and a businessman father in Yorkshire, she was raised in Redhill, Surrey and attended the independent Putney High School and St Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith. After completing a degree in French and German at the University of Manchester, Raworth spent a year teaching English to teenagers in Toulouse before studying for a postgraduate course in broadcasting and journalism at City University, London. [1][2]

[edit] Career

She joined the BBC in 1992 as a news reporter, first for Greater Manchester Radio and then as BBC Regions correspondent in Brussels in April 1994.[1] In May 1995, she became the regular joint presenter of BBC's Look North programme in Leeds, moving to BBC Breakfast News in 1997.[1]

She then joined the BBC's early morning news programme Breakfast at its launch in 2000, which she presented alongside Jeremy Bowen on Monday-Thursdays. She then moved to the BBC Six O'Clock News in January 2003 which she presented alongside George Alagiah; she was a presenter on this bulletin until October 2005 when she went on maternity leave, and was replaced by Natasha Kaplinsky. In March 2006 Raworth was named as the main presenter of the BBC News at One, replacing Anna Ford on Monday-Thursdays. She took up the position in June 2006 after returning from maternity leave. She also can occasionally be seen presenting relief shifts on the rolling news channel BBC News channel.

Raworth has also presented several BBC specials, including coverage of the Queen's Golden Jubilee and Our Monarchy - the Next 50 Years, both alongside David Dimbleby.[1] In addition, she has appeared on Tomorrow's World and entertainment programmes such as Dream Lives and the Judgemental quiz-show in autumn 2002.

In 2004 Raworth appeared on the BBC fashion show What Not to Wear, in which she was given a makeover by style advisors Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine. In 2006 she was part of the television coverage of the Children's Party at the Palace, an event to celebrate the Queen's 80th Birthday. Along with Huw Edwards, she presented some fake news updates for the programme, which led to many complaints from viewers.[3] Raworth had a cameo role as a newsreader in the last series of the BBC comedy series My Hero.

In August 2007, it was reported by The Guardian that with the departure of Kirsty Young from Five News, the broadcaster is on the lookout for a big name to replace her, with Sophie being a possibility. However, another BBC newsreader, Natasha Kaplinsky was recruited. [4]

In October 2007 it was reported Raworth is expecting her third child in February 2008.

At the end of the One O'Clock News on 31st January 2008, Sophie announced that she would be leaving the programme until the summer, and confirmed Kate Silverton as presenting the bulletin during her absence. It is expected that Sophie will return to the News at One.

[edit] Personal life

Having admitted only having three boyfriends,[2] Raworth married old friend, estate agent Richard Winter of Savills in Hammersmith and Fulham, London, in December 2003,[5] after being proposed to on the Amalfi Coast. The couple have two daughters and a son and live in West London. Sophie gave birth to a baby boy in March 2008. Raworth is good friends with Five News presenter Kate Gerbeau.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d BBC News Profiles: Sophie Raworth. Retrieved on 2006-12-28.
  2. ^ a b Hermione Eyre (19 February 2006). Sophie Raworth: The autocutie with brains. The Independent. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  3. ^ Complaints about BBC's fake news updates BBC Editor's Blog
  4. ^ Kaplinsky quitting BBC for Five. BBC News (5 October 2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  5. ^ England and Wales Marriages 1984-2005

[edit] External links