Diane-Louise Jordan
Encyclopedia
Diane-Louise Jordan is a British
television presenter. She was the first black presenter of the children's television programme Blue Peter
, being involved in the programme from 25 January 1990 until 26 February 1996, making her its fourth longest-serving female presenter (after Konnie Huq
, Valerie Singleton and Lesley Judd
).
Born in 1960, Jordan grew up in Hatfield, Hertfordshire
. She is a trained actress, studying theatre arts at Rose Bruford College
, and worked as a stage actress after graduating. She appeared on children's series Corners
when she was spotted by Blue Peter editor Lewis Bronze. She became the programme's first black presenter and turned down a role in soap opera
Coronation Street
for the job.
Jordan is a Christian
, and can currently be seen presenting BBC One
's religious programme, Songs of Praise
. She also is vice-president of Action for Children, sits on the Council of The Prince's Trust
and is a trustee for BBC
Children in Need
. In 1997 she sat on the Diana, Princess of Wales
, Memorial Committee.
She married violinist Giles Broadbent in July 2007 in the chapel of Rugby School
, Warwickshire
. In 2008 she became a confidence coach to former Death Row
convict Kenny Richey
, helping him to adjust to life after being released.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television presenter. She was the first black presenter of the children's television programme Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
, being involved in the programme from 25 January 1990 until 26 February 1996, making her its fourth longest-serving female presenter (after Konnie Huq
Konnie Huq
Kanak Asha "Konnie" Huq is a British television presenter, who is best known for being the longest-serving female presenter of Blue Peter, having presented it from 1 December 1997 until 23 January 2008...
, Valerie Singleton and Lesley Judd
Lesley Judd
Lesley Judd is an English dancer and TV presenter, best known as a long-serving host of the BBC children's programme Blue Peter. She was educated at the independent Royal Ballet School...
).
Born in 1960, Jordan grew up in Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
. She is a trained actress, studying theatre arts at Rose Bruford College
Rose Bruford College
Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance is a British drama school, offering university-level and professional vocational training for theatre and performance and the BA and MA degrees, based in Sidcup, Southeast London.-History:Founded in 1950, Rose Bruford "pioneered the first acting degree...
, and worked as a stage actress after graduating. She appeared on children's series Corners
Corners (TV series)
Corners was a BBC children's television series in the 1980s. Produced by Alison Stewart, the format of the programme was that viewers would submit questions and queries , and the two hosts, Sophie Aldred and Simon Davies, would try to answer the questions, aided by an anthopomorphised...
when she was spotted by Blue Peter editor Lewis Bronze. She became the programme's first black presenter and turned down a role in soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
for the job.
Jordan is a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, and can currently be seen presenting BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's religious programme, Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional Christian hymns. It is a widely watched and long-running religious television programme, one of the few peak-time free-to-air religious programmes in Europe Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional...
. She also is vice-president of Action for Children, sits on the Council of The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
and is a trustee for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
. In 1997 she sat on the Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
, Memorial Committee.
She married violinist Giles Broadbent in July 2007 in the chapel of Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. In 2008 she became a confidence coach to former Death Row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
convict Kenny Richey
Kenny Richey
Kenneth "Kenny" Thomas Richey is a British-US dual citizen, born to a Scottish mother and American father, who was raised in Scotland but moved to Ohio, United States to join his father in late 1982....
, helping him to adjust to life after being released.