Sophie Jane Raworth is a British newsreader and journalist who works for
the BBC. She is the main presenter of the BBC News at One, presenting Tuesday,
Wednesday, Friday, and regularly appears on the BBC News at Six and occasionally
on BBC News at Ten. In 2015, she became the new presenter of
consumer affairs programme Watchdog, replacing Anne Robinson.
Early life Born in Redhill, Surrey, 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. Career
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.
In May 1995, she became the regular joint presenter of BBC's Look North
programme in Leeds. Raworth moved to national television in
1997, to co-present the BBC's Breakfast News programme on BBC One, initially
with Justin Webb, and in later years, with John Nicolson.
Raworth 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 presented several BBC
specials, including coverage of the Queen's Golden Jubilee and Our Monarchy
– the Next 50 Years, both alongside David Dimbleby. 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. 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.
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 the main relief presenter on the BBC News at
Six and a regular relief presenter on the BBC News at Ten, often presenting
when regular presenters Huw Edwards, Fiona Bruce and George Alagiah are not
available. She has also appeared in place of Andrew Marr on The Andrew Marr
Show, and presented on the BBC News Channel.
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. In 2009, she presented Crimewatch Roadshow on BBC One
on weekday mornings. In 2013, Raworth had a cameo appearance
at the start of the film A Good Day to Die Hard as herself.
On 16 July 2013, Raworth was given an Award of Doctor of Arts honoris causa by
City University London. Raworth presented Watchdog Daily in 2012 and
Watchdog Test House in 2014 and 2015, before landing the role of main
presenter on Watchdog in September 2015. She replaced Anne Robinson.
Personal life Raworth, who lives in west London,
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 and a son.
= Charity= On 17 April 2011, Raworth completed the
London Marathon despite collapsing two miles from the finish line. She has now
completed four marathons, most recently the London Marathon 2014.
On 13 April 2014, she took part in the 2014 London Marathon having completed
the course in just over 3 hours and 48 minutes after once again gaining a
celebrity place to ensure a good finishing time.
Filmography Film
A Good Day to Die Hard – Cameo, herself TV
Breakfast – Presenter BBC News at Six – Newscaster
BBC News at One – Newscaster Crimewatch Roadshow – Presenter
Watchdog Daily – Presenter The Andrew Marr Show – Guest presenter
Watchdog Test House – Co-presenter Chelsea Flower Show – Presenter
Watchdog – Presenter References
External links BBC News Profile of Sophie Raworth
Sophie Raworth at the Internet Movie Database
Sophie Raworth Profile TV Newsroom Telegraph article April 2005
Raworth Steps in for Ford