Latest news with #TheReunion
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bafta fellowship award is the icing on the cake for TV's Kirsty Wark on her birthday
For 30 years, she fronted the BBC 's flagship Newsnight programme. Now Kirsty Wark has said it was 'the icing on the cake' to discover on her 70th birthday that she is to be honoured with a Bafta fellowship. The Scottish TV presenter and journalist, who celebrated the milestone birthday on February 3, will receive Bafta's highest accolade at its annual TV awards. She said: 'It was quite a long birthday, actually, there's lots of things that go on (during) a birthday. 'But to get that email was tremendous. And I think it just added, literally, the icing on the cake. 'So we were at home, we were doing different things. We were going to, sort of, my favourite place to go in Scotland, Arran. 'We were doing all sorts of things and then that just came in. I just thought, that's extraordinary. I can't believe it.' Ms Wark, who is being honoured for her exceptional contribution to television, has interviewed a variety of prominent politicians and cultural figures including former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, Australian author Germaine Greer, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and The Libertines' Pete Doherty. She joined the BBC current affairs programme Newsnight in 1993 as a presenter and left in July 2024 after 30 years at the helm. She has fronted documentaries on social media and taboos surrounding the menopause, and has also explored the stories of some of Scotland's most influential female pioneers in BBC series The Women Who Changed Modern Scotland. Ms Wark currently presents radio programmes The Reunion and Front Row on BBC Radio Four. She has won several industry awards including the British Academy Scotland Awards 2013 special achievement gong for outstanding contribution to broadcasting. Previous recipients of the Bafta fellowship include Baroness Floella Benjamin, actress Meera Syal and comedians Sir Billy Connolly and Dawn French. The fellowship will be presented to Wark during the Bafta Television Awards on Sunday May 11 at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.
Telegraph
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Strong woman must lead BBC, says Kirsty Wark
The BBC should be led by a strong woman, Kirsty Wark has said. Calling for a 'more adventurous' choice as the next director-general (DG), she said some 'brilliant' women had been overlooked in the past and should be in the running to be Tim Davie's successor. 'I want to see a female DG very soon. I'm not saying, 'Tim, go now,' but I think it's time for a woman,' said Wark, who stepped down from Newsnight last summer after 30 years. She is this year's recipient of the Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy's highest honour. Asked why a woman had never been appointed to the top BBC role, Wark said: 'It's definitely not because there hasn't been anyone good enough. I can think of three women who would be brilliant.' She continued: 'We've got brilliant women running departments and running programmes but I think we just need to be a bit more adventurous. 'The BBC has so many other ways it's on the front foot – technology, iPlayer, BBC audio and other things – and I would really love to see a woman take hold of that.' Wark, 70, who continues to work for the BBC as a presenter of Radio 4's Front Row and The Reunion, said that the corporation needed a charismatic leader who did more than appear in public at times of crisis. She cited Greg Dyke, the director-general from 2000 to 2004, who became a household name. 'I want the DG to be a really strong public figure, someone really out there. We often only hear from the DG when they're firefighting. What we want to hear is the way they're going to deliver the best for you. 'For example, every DG is different but if you look at somebody who was really out there, I'd say Greg Dyke. [The public] knew Greg Dyke and that was terrific. 'I love the idea of walking the floor and being collegiate. Tim does that as much as possible but I do actually think we want somebody who is very open to conversations with staff all the time. 'Tim has done a really good job but I just feel: why not a woman?' Davie is expected to remain in post to negotiate the next BBC charter, which begins in January 2028. He has been the broadcaster's director-general since 2020. Wark will be presented with the Fellowship at the Bafta Television Awards on May 11, honouring her outstanding contribution to television. She said: 'This is a wonderful surprise and a great honour. Television has been my home for 40 years, both at the BBC and in independent production, and I continue to learn every day from people with awe-inspiring skills who have become treasured colleagues and dear friends.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Strong woman must lead BBC, says Kirsty Wark
The BBC should be led by a strong woman, Kirsty Wark has said. Calling for a 'more adventurous' choice as the next director-general (DG), she said some 'brilliant' women had been overlooked in the past and should be in the running to be Tim Davie's successor. 'I want to see a female DG very soon. I'm not saying, 'Tim, go now,' but I think it's time for a woman,' said Wark, who stepped down from Newsnight last summer after 30 years. She is this year's recipient of the Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy's highest honour. Asked why a woman had never been appointed to the top BBC role, Wark said: 'It's definitely not because there hasn't been anyone good enough. I can think of three women who would be brilliant.' She continued: 'We've got brilliant women running departments and running programmes but I think we just need to be a bit more adventurous. 'The BBC has so many other ways it's on the front foot – technology, iPlayer, BBC audio and other things – and I would really love to see a woman take hold of that.' Wark, 70, who continues to work for the BBC as a presenter of Radio 4's Front Row and The Reunion, said that the corporation needed a charismatic leader who did more than appear in public at times of crisis. She cited Greg Dyke, the director-general from 2000 to 2004, who became a household name. 'I want the DG to be a really strong public figure, someone really out there. We often only hear from the DG when they're firefighting. What we want to hear is the way they're going to deliver the best for you. 'For example, every DG is different but if you look at somebody who was really out there, I'd say Greg Dyke. [The public] knew Greg Dyke and that was terrific. 'I love the idea of walking the floor and being collegiate. Tim does that as much as possible but I do actually think we want somebody who is very open to conversations with staff all the time. 'Tim has done a really good job but I just feel: why not a woman?' Davie is expected to remain in post to negotiate the next BBC charter, which begins in January 2028. He has been the broadcaster's director-general since 2020. Wark will be presented with the Fellowship at the Bafta Television Awards on May 11, honouring her outstanding contribution to television. She said: 'This is a wonderful surprise and a great honour. Television has been my home for 40 years, both at the BBC and in independent production, and I continue to learn every day from people with awe-inspiring skills who have become treasured colleagues and dear friends.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
