| James ("Jim") Naughtie | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Alexander James Naughtie[1] |
| Born | 9 August 1951 [1] Milltown of Rothiemay, near Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Show | Today programme |
| Station(s) | BBC Radio 4 |
| Network | BBC |
| Show | Bookclub |
| Station(s) | BBC Radio 4 |
| Network | BBC |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor Updale |
James ("Jim") Naughtie (surname pronounced /ˈnɔːxti/; born 9 August 1951) is a British radio presenter and radio news presenter for the BBC. Since 1994 he has been one of the main presenters of Radio 4's Today programme.
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James Naughtie was born and brought up in Milltown of Rothiemay, near Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was educated at Keith Grammar School, the University of Aberdeen and then Syracuse University in New York. He is a Fellow of the British-American Project.
Naughtie began his career as a journalist in 1975 at the Aberdeen Press & Journal, moving to the London offices of The Scotsman in 1977. The following year he joined the paper's Westminster staff, and became its Chief Political Correspondent. In 1981, he worked for The Washington Post as the Laurence Stern fellow on its national staff. Naughtie joined The Guardian in 1984, and became its Chief Political Correspondent in 1985.
In 1986, Naughtie moved into radio presenting, presenting The Week In Westminster moving to The World At One in 1988. He has also made several radio documentaries and series and has written three books, Playing the Palace: A Westminster Collection, The Rivals: The Intimate Story of a Political Marriage, and The Accidental American: Tony Blair and the Presidency.
Naughtie has been a presenter of the televised Proms since 1992, and has also presented opera programmes such as Radio 3's Opera News. Naughtie is also the current host of Radio 4's Bookclub.
In 1994 he became one of the main presenters of Radio 4's Today programme. He is noted for asking particularly long questions.[2] Shortly before the 2005 General Election he opened a question to Labour politician Ed Balls "If we win the election...", which led to criticism that he was not neutral as required of BBC political journalists.[3] He has a distinctive Scottish accent which has been named as the "best voice to wake up to" in a comparative survey.[4]
Naughtie was voted Sony Radio Awards Radio Personality of the Year in 1991 and Voice of the Listener and Viewer Award in 2001. He is a member of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission and a United Kingdom advisory board member for the British-American Project, which exists to promote the British-American relationship.
Naughtie was installed as chancellor of the University of Stirling on 9 October 2008, succeeding Dame Diana Rigg when her ten year term of office ended.
Naughtie is married to Eleanor Updale, author of the award-winning Montmorency books and a former producer of The World at One.[5] They have three children, and live in south-west London.[6]
| Media offices | ||
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| Preceded by Brian Redhead |
Presenter of Today Programme 1994 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |