Kirsty Wark's life off screen from rarely-seen husband to actor son
Former Newsnight host Kirsty Quark will be awarded a BAFTA Fellowship for her exceptional contribution to television with the Scottish star enjoying a quiet family life when she isn't working
Kirsty Wark will be awarded a BAFTA Fellowship for her exceptional contribution to television at the The BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at London's Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall on May 11. The prestigious event is set to be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and will see the Scottish born journalist accept the honour.
Kirsty, 70, was born on February 3 1955 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, and is well known for her career in broadcast journalism. She is married to television producer Alan Clements with whom she tied the knot in 1990.
Kirsty and Alan share two children and live in Glasgow. She has previously been honoured for her work when she received the Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting accolade at the 2013 British Academy Scotland Awards.
The couple saw their home become a work hub not just for them but for their children - Caitlin, 35, a TV executive, and James, 33, who works as an actor - when COVID pushed them all to stick under one roof. At the time Kirsty discussed what it was like to suddenly have a full home again with all the family in it.
She also happily discussed their differing careers while talking to The Sunday Post. She said: 'The house is full – there are five of us here, all working away, my husband is running his media companies, with his staff all working from their homes.
'My daughter is usually in London, she's a development researcher for Eon Entertainment, and my son runs a theatre company in New York, so he's here doing some teaching, writing, doing courses and planning productions. We're not sure when he'll get back to America. And my daughter's fiancee, who is a civil servant, is also working from here."
Kirsty hosted Newsnight for 31 years between 1993 and 2024 when she stepped down from her role after the general election coverage ended. She first joined the BBC in 1976 as a graduate researcher for Radio Scotland.
Following the announcement of her departure from Newsnight Kirsty hit out at BBC execs over cost-cuts on the show that led to the change. Speaking to Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, Kirsty addressed the broadcaster's decision to make cuts to BBC Two's Newsnight. She said: 'It was really a tough time for everybody.
"In this world, it's all about the brand and Newsnight is a massive brand for BBC Two. Especially in an election year, every single night we will interrogate what is going to be a critical election.
"So, it's not about killing it," Kirsty said before adding: "Some people wanted to kill it maybe. But, lots of people didn't want to kill it and I think whatever happens down the line, it's going to be in hale and hearty health. We won't have some of our best editors, but we will still have Nick Watt running up to an election."
Kirsty admitted that she would not have made the same decision as the broadcaster. She continued: 'I'm going to be bullish about this and I think I wouldn't have done it.
"I loved Newsnight the way it was, but your point about linear [TV] is not lost. Everybody has to change and so I think there is a future for Newsnight and I think it will be in a different format.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
20 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
BBC W1A sequel with Hugh Bonneville confirmed after 8 years
Titled Twenty Twenty Six, the brand new sitcom will focus on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the six-part mockumentary series, Bonneville will reprise the role as he takes on a new title, the BBC's director of integrity for the World Cup. Following rumours last year, the broadcaster announced the news fans have been waiting for in a mock press release, stating Fletcher's latest appointment as Director of Integrity at the global football tournament. The character was first introduced in 2011 series Twenty Twelve, which followed an organising committee for the London Olympic Games and later inspired W1A in 2014. Is there a follow-up to W1A? Find out what Twenty Twenty Six is about The BBC shares: 'Having previously held a leadership role on the London Games of Twenty Twelve and a spell in W1A as the Head of Values at the BBC, Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) is now bound for the greatest stage in world football. 'Next year's tournament will be the biggest ever. Hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico with 48 countries taking part and 16 venues thousands of miles apart across the whole of North America; what could possibly go wrong? Ian Fletcher is about to find out, as he joins the Twenty Twenty Six Oversight Team in Miami as its Director of Integrity.' When does Netflix release shows? Character Ian Fletcher said: "I'm thrilled at the prospect of joining the Oversight Team in Miami for this unique event. And in terms of the Integrity role, to borrow a soccer analogy, this is a rare opportunity to set out your own goals and then score them on the global stage.' W1A sequel Twenty Twenty Six cast list revealed Bonneville's character will join the Twenty Twenty Six Oversight Team in Miami, with a cast including The Day Of The Jackal's Nick Blood, Fresh Off The Boat star Chelsey Crisp and Designated Survivor's Paulo Costanzo. Stephen Kunken, best known for playing Ari Spyros in Billions, also joins the cast alongside The Inbetweeners' Belinda Stewart-Wilson. Did you watch W1A as well as Twenty Twelve? (Image: BBC) How to watch W1A sequel Twenty Twenty Six on TV Twenty Twenty Six will consist of six 30-minute episodes and will be available to watch on BBC One and iPlayer – a release date is yet to be announced. W1A became a hit with viewers, and in 2013, Bonneville was nominated for four TV Bafta award,s and the original series took the Best Situation Comedy award. The show also starred The Crown's Olivia Colman, who won the 2013 Bafta for Best Female Performance in a Comedy. Director John Morton commented: 'I wasn't sure what Ian Fletcher had been up to recently. The last I heard he was still recovering from a serious mindfulness course in Somerset. Recommended reading: 'So, it's great to hear that he's made it back and has re-emerged in his natural habitat at the centre of a well-known institution, but now on the world stage and facing his biggest opportunity yet to get things right. 'I'm thrilled and hugely grateful to the BBC for giving me the chance to follow him again, this time all the way to Miami, and I literally can't wait to see what happens.' You can watch all episodes of W1A and Twenty Twelve on BBC iPlayer.
South Wales Argus
22 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Alan Cumming to receive honorary degree from University of St Andrews
More than 2,200 students will gather at the University of St Andrews from June 30 for summer graduation ceremonies. Graduates from 88 different countries, including Canada, Australia and Nepal will receive their awards in the Younger Hall from June 30 to July 4. The graduation ceremony season will include nine 'distinguished individuals' honoured for their contributions to sport, politics, science, medicine and the arts. BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner with his mother, Grace, after he was made an OBE for services to journalism in 2005 (Fiona Hanson/PA) Marvel actor and The Traitors US presenter Alan Cumming will receive an honorary degree on Thursday July 3, while BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner will be presented with one on Friday July 4. Sustainability campaigner Sara Parkin and US golfer Judy Rankin will also receive the accolade during the week. Also recognised will be Russian-American scientist Eugene Koonin and political theorist and feminist writer Professor Cynthia Enloe. There is one ceremony on June 30 at 2pm, while the other ceremonies will occur twice in one day.
Scottish Sun
26 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Aberdeen brutally troll EVERY Premiership rival with video including Celtic captain crying & Rangers TV's ‘corrupt' clip
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ABERDEEN have caused a stir on Scottish football's fixtures reveal day - by brutally trolling each one of their Premiership rivals. Clubs tend to fire out the fixture lists in a matter-of-fact fashion on a a day like this but the Dons took a different tack and their supporter base was loving it as they poked fun at each top flight rival in order. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Callum McGregor is pictured crying at the Scottish Cup final Credit: Instagram / @aberdeenfc 7 St Mirren are lampooned for hosting a Celtic shop at their stadium Credit: Instagram / @aberdeenfc 7 John Brown's 'corrupt' rant at Nick Walsh also features Credit: Instagram / @aberdeenfc The hilarious Dons video was released on the club's Instagram channel, entitled 'A look at our 25/26 fixtures' - and it doesn't spare anyone's blushes. For instance, when it comes to the clash with Celtic at home on August 10th the video simply shows a clip of Hoops captain Callum McGregor CRYING on the Hampden pitch after their defeat to the Dons. For Rangers, ahead of the visit to Ibrox on November 1, the Dons have simply shared the Rangers TV clip which has got John 'Bomber' Brown in so much trouble. The club have had to swallow a £3,000 fine after Brown fumed at the non-award of a Nico Raskin 'goal' which was clearly over the line by calling it 'corrupt'. As for Hibs, the Dons show the video of Hibs new signing Jamie McGrath celebrating the club's Scottish Cup win on open top bus day, while fans chant 'Hibs are falling apart'. The dig at Falkirk involves a comic take on their ultras attempting to start a scrap at a train station - while the Dons' swipe at Dundee is new boss Steven Pressley saying if you want a manager who has a history of winning trophies "I'm not your man". St Mirren are lampooned over the time they incorporatedCeltic branding as part of their stadium for friendlies back while work was being done at Parkhead back in 2015, while Kilmarnock''s is a video of SunSport's very own Kris Boyd. The Killie and Gers hero is asked to contribute to live coverage of a match on Sky despite the fact he's eating a pie at the time. All in all, it's fair to say it's got the Scottish football world talking, with the main reaction one of approval. Dons fans took to the comments to say: "This is superb" FOUR to join Rangers before Champions League Plus Aarons impact on Tavernier REVEALED A second said: "This is epic, just what I want from our club." A third said: "Give the admin a raise" 7 Steven Pressley's appointment as Dundee boss gets a mention Credit: Instagram / @aberdeenfc 7 SunSport's very own Kris Boyd features in the Kilmarnock entry Credit: Instagram / @aberdeenfc A fourth replied: "Well done the media team". A fifth said: "This is the kind of utter nonsense I live for" Another said: "Give the content guy a pay rise, this is the content we all love to see. The trolling is top quality banter at its best." 7 How Rangers' fixtures look 7 How Celtic's games shape up Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
