| Sophie Raworth | |
|---|---|
Raworth in Brighton in 2009 |
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| Born | Sophie Jane Raworth[1] 15 May 1968 Surrey, England |
| Occupation | Journalist, presenter, newsreader |
| Spouse(s) | Richard Winter (2003–present) |
| Notable credit(s) | BBC News at One BBC News at Six |
Sophie Jane Raworth (born 15 May 1968)[2] is an English newsreader and journalist who works for British broadcaster the BBC. She is the main presenter of the BBC News at One, presenting Tuesday to Friday, and regularly appears on the BBC News at Six and occasionally on BBC News at Ten.
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Born in Surrey[1] to a florist mother and a businessman father, Raworth was brought up in Twickenham, south west London 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.[2][3]
Raworth 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.[2] In May 1995, she became the regular joint presenter of BBC's Look North programme in Leeds, moving to BBC Breakfast News in 1997.[2]
She then joined the BBC's early morning news programme Breakfast at its launch in 2000, which she presented alongside Jeremy Bowen[4] 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 presented several BBC specials, including coverage of the Queen's Golden Jubilee and Our Monarchy - the Next 50 Years, both alongside David Dimbleby.[2] 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.[5] 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 was on the lookout for a big name to replace her; Raworth was seen as a possibility. However, another BBC newsreader, Natasha Kaplinsky was recruited.[6]
At the end of the One O'Clock News on 31 January 2008, she announced that she would be leaving the programme until the summer, and confirmed Kate Silverton as presenting the bulletin during her absence. Raworth returned on 25 August 2008, after the birth of her third child, with the presentation of the Bank Holiday edition of the BBC News at One, BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten. Raworth ran The Great North Run on 5 October 2008.
Since early 2009, Raworth has been a regular relief presenter on the BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten, often presenting when regular presenters Huw Edwards, Fiona Bruce and George Alagiah aren't available. She has also appeared in place of Andrew Marr on The Andrew Marr Show, and presented on the BBC News Channel (formerly known as BBC News 24).
In May 2009 she presented 'The Trouble with Working Women' with reporter and father-of-three Justin Rowlatt on the BBC. The programme looked at the role of the working woman.[7] In 2009, she presented Crimewatch Roadshow on BBC1 on weekday mornings.
On 17 April 2011 she completed the London Marathon despite collapsing two miles from the finish line.[8]
Raworth married her old friend, estate agent Richard Winter of Savills in Hammersmith and Fulham, London, in December 2003, after he proposed to her on the Amalfi Coast. The couple have two daughters, both born in Kensington and Chelsea, London: Ella Rose (born 2004) and Georgia Grace (born late 2005 / early 2006)[1] and a son Oliver (born March 2008); they live in west London.
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Huw Edwards |
Main presenter of BBC News at Six 2003 – 2005 |
Succeeded by Natasha Kaplinsky |
| Preceded by Anna Ford |
Main presenter of BBC News at One 2006 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by None |
Main presenter of Crimewatch Roadshow 2009 |
Succeeded by Ginny Buckley |