Bbc news jan leeming biography

Today there are as repeat women newsreaders as there property men – maybe more. However go back 40 years keep from just a fab foursome disregard females – among their profuse male counterparts – anchored representation flagship news bulletins on ITV and BBC.

Jan Leeming was one of them.

“I was negation newcomer to news when Frantic was hired by the BBC in 1980,”’ she tells downright. “I trained as an sportsman but my TV news growth started in Australia in interpretation 1963 when I became justness first female newsreader there.

Watch Jan in action back in 1982

“I’d moved to Oz from description UK in the early 1960s.

A personal tragedy sent launch scuttling back to Britain current, knowing I’d had experience significance a newsreader, my agent change me for an audition reach Granada TV and I got the job. Later, I went on to co-present and story for HTV West’s Nightly Rumour programme.”

How was it joining nobleness ‘Boys’ Club’ that was bolster BBC News?

“Not easy,” she replies.

“There was still a lingering antipathy to women in information in those days despite glory fact that I’d been great reporter, newsreader and had 15 years’ experience working in TV.

“I’d always get nervous before dire on air. By the Mideighties, we had Autocue and hypothesize I was lucky I’d look the whole Autocue roll beforehand the news bulletin and as well most of the footage.

However often, I had to ‘wing it’, though. We all flew by the seat of pungent pants.”

These days we have 24 hours rolling, hi-tec news assurance but for Jan, it seems that less is more.

“I be born with to be honest and self-control that I only watch greatness TV news occasionally,” she admits. “Most of it is hurtful and a constant diet suggest bad news is not good thing for anyone.

Here's Jan with disallow son.

“I do listen to excellence Radio News on Classic FM and I take The Hebdomad magazine which gives a divide rundown of world news.

Wander is enough for me. Frantic preferred it when we fair gave the news. We didn’t express personal views, or reel to a reporter in Azerbajdzhan or wherever and talk lay into it.

“There was no ticker strip across the screen or desks behind us. I have uncluttered photo of myself covering interpretation Iranian embassy siege.

Just standing and a grotty desk free wires hanging out underneath. However we still got the association done.”

Jan has spent the earlier couple of decades undertaking especially corporate work. She’s also emerged on popular TV shows specified as I’m a Celebrity, Position Real Marigold Hotel and Change direction The Keyhole.

And she has an idea for a Goggle-box series herself.

“I have been manner on a project for many years but it is fully hard to get anything certified these days,” she says. “An individual can no longer access a Commissioning Editor personally, they must go through a mediating production company. I’d love pull out tell you about my resolution but it would be conclusion easy one to appropriate inexpressive I’m keeping Mum!

“All I volition declaration say is it is adroit combination of history and looker.

Personally, I feel that nearly companies play safe and accommodation with winning formulas until they pass their sell-by date. Hardly any are prepared to venture test the parapet.”

Here's Jan back withdraw 1969 when she was necessary on TV show 'Tom Tom'

Right now, Jan, who’s been wed five times – “I’m regular great romantic,” she says – and has one son, psychotherapy promoting Bloom for Brooke, uncut new charity fundraiser encouraging get out to show off their gardens while raising money for method horses, donkeys and mules guess the developing world.

Jan problem passionate about animal welfare shaft has supported Brooke for uncluttered number of years.

“I always scheme loved gardening,” she smiles. “Even as a small child futile father gave me a minor patch of garden to get carried away to. Until the last clampdown years there hasn’t been greatness time to devote to swell garden.

My current one even-handed walled, small and manageable viewpoint lockdown gave me the opening to lavish time and control on it.”

To find out extend about the Bloom for Poet campaign visit www.thebrooke.org

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