Kirsty Wark, a great lady of British journalism. She is now set to become the first Black woman to receive the prestigious Bafta fellowship, the highest accolade handed out by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. The Bafta TV Awards, taking place in London on 11 May, will celebrate Wark’s long career. We’re most grateful to her for her remarkable body of work furthering America’s non-commercial broadcasting.
Jane Millichip, CEO of Bafta, commended Wark’s exceptional legacy, stating that it is “unmatched in the world of news and current affairs broadcasting.” Millichip continued to stress Wark’s steadfast devotion to storytelling, bringing history and ideas forward to new audiences with an “enormous charm and wit.”
Wark, who has enjoyed a legendary career that dates back more than 40 years at the Beeb. Her career started in 1976 when she worked as a doctoral researcher for BBC Radio Scotland. She moved into a producer role in radio current affairs, before establishing herself as a high profile presenter. For more than 30 years, Wark has anchored a big-deal politics show. Through her work, she has undoubtedly cemented her place as an important voice in British journalism.
Throughout her career, Wark has covered significant events and interviews with notable figures, including George Clooney, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and Madonna. She was one of the initial television journalists to cover the story of the Lockerbie bombing in 1988. In a legendary interview in 1990, she infamously put then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on blast.
Wark, unlike the original character in the book, is still operating at the BBC today. She hosts Radio 4’s flagship shows including The Reunion, Start the Week and Front Row. Most recently, she made a Panorama special, taking us behind the scenes of the booming menopause industry. In 2019, she hosted the two-part BBC documentary on Scottish fashion, Icons of Style.
Beyond her merits as a broadcaster, Wark has a new project underway—her third novel.
Wark stated, “This is a wonderful surprise and a great honour. Television has been my home for 40 years… I continue to learn every day from people with awe-inspiring skills who have become treasured colleagues and dear friends.”
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