Jane Garvey (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Jane Susan Garvey is a British
radio presenter, currently a presenter of BBC Radio 4
's Woman's Hour
.
in Crosby
, Merseyside and is a graduate of the University of Birmingham
.
, where she later became news editor before leaving in 1988 to join BBC Hereford and Worcester
as a reporter. The station began in February 1989. In 1989, Garvey was presenter of The Breakfast Show at BBC Hereford and Worcester, where Ben Cooper (later head of daytime programmes at Radio 1
) worked as her assistant.
Garvey was the first voice on Radio Five Live when it launched at 5 am on 28 March 1994. She became the co-presenter of Radio Five Live's award-winning breakfast programme in 1994, and also presented the Everywoman programme on the BBC World Service
. She was also the presenter of the relaunched Midday show on BBC Radio 5 Live, (during which the award-winning "Postcards from the Street" series by Stan Burridge was broadcast). Her final long-term assignment on Radio Five Live was as co-presenter of its Drive show on weekday afternoons with Peter Allen
. She and Allen have won four Sony Gold Awards
and their relationship on air was described in The Times
in 2002 as "a marriage made in radio heaven".
In September 1997, Garvey was a passenger on the Swansea
train in the Southall rail crash
and received praise for her on-the-spot reports.
In May 2007 in a discussion on the tenth anniversary of the Labour Party
gaining power in the United Kingdom Garvey unwittingly revealed an apparent pro Labour bias
at the BBC. Garvey reminisced how in the morning after the general election
"the corridors of Broadcasting House were strewn with empty champagne bottles - I will always remember that", though adding that the BBC had "perhaps fallen out of love with Labour" in more recent years.
In September 2007, it was announced that she would leave Five Live after 13 years and on Monday 8 October 2007 she joined BBC Radio 4
's Woman's Hour
programme as the second principal presenter, succeeding Martha Kearney
in the role. She created a minor stir in February 2008 in a Guardian
interview, describing Woman's Hour as too middle-class and fixated on cooking.
On Monday 24 January 2011, while presenting Woman's Hour, Garvey asked a guest why the title role of the film Gandhi was "played by a white man".
in September 1998 in Swansea
. They have lived in Shepherds Bush, west London and they have two daughters, both born in Hammersmith and Fulham
, London: Evelyn Katarina (born January 2000) and Sian Mary (born March 2003). Chiles is a well known dedicated West Bromwich Albion fan, and when asked whether West Brom would be promoted that season, Garvey commented: "I flaming hope not. Last time Albion got promoted, I gave birth nine months later."
In June 2008, Chiles and Garvey separated; they divorced in October 2009.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
radio presenter, currently a presenter of BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
.
Education
Garvey was educated at Merchant Taylors' Girls' SchoolMerchant Taylors' Girls' School
Merchant Taylors' Girls' School, Crosby is a British selective independent girls' school, located in Great Crosby on Merseyside. As of 2007, it had around 620 pupils, ranging in age from 11 to 18...
in Crosby
Crosby, Merseyside
Crosby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. Historically part of Lancashire it is situated north of Bootle, south of Southport, Formby and west of Netherton-History:...
, Merseyside and is a graduate of the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
.
Work
She was employed as a medical records clerk in a finance company, as a trainee for an advertising agency and as a receptionist, before becoming a promotions assistant for Radio WyvernWyvern FM
Wyvern is a radio station broadcasting to Herefordshire and Worcestershire in England. Wyvern is predominantly music-based, playing pop from the 1980s through to the present day...
, where she later became news editor before leaving in 1988 to join BBC Hereford and Worcester
BBC Hereford and Worcester
BBC Hereford and Worcester is the BBC Local Radio service for the English counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. It broadcasts from its studios in both Worcester and Hereford on 104 , 104.4 104.6 and 94.7 FM; as well as 738 and 1584 MW on AM...
as a reporter. The station began in February 1989. In 1989, Garvey was presenter of The Breakfast Show at BBC Hereford and Worcester, where Ben Cooper (later head of daytime programmes at Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
) worked as her assistant.
Garvey was the first voice on Radio Five Live when it launched at 5 am on 28 March 1994. She became the co-presenter of Radio Five Live's award-winning breakfast programme in 1994, and also presented the Everywoman programme on the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
. She was also the presenter of the relaunched Midday show on BBC Radio 5 Live, (during which the award-winning "Postcards from the Street" series by Stan Burridge was broadcast). Her final long-term assignment on Radio Five Live was as co-presenter of its Drive show on weekday afternoons with Peter Allen
Peter Allen (UK broadcaster)
Peter Edwin Allen is a UK radio broadcaster, and the current co-presenter of BBC Radio 5 Live's Drive programme.-Early life:...
. She and Allen have won four Sony Gold Awards
Sony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
and their relationship on air was described in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
in 2002 as "a marriage made in radio heaven".
In September 1997, Garvey was a passenger on the Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
train in the Southall rail crash
Southall rail crash
The Southall rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 19 September 1997, on the Great Western Main Line at Southall, west London. Seven people were killed and 139 injured...
and received praise for her on-the-spot reports.
In May 2007 in a discussion on the tenth anniversary of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
gaining power in the United Kingdom Garvey unwittingly revealed an apparent pro Labour bias
Bias
Bias is an inclination to present or hold a partial perspective at the expense of alternatives. Bias can come in many forms.-In judgement and decision making:...
at the BBC. Garvey reminisced how in the morning after the general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
"the corridors of Broadcasting House were strewn with empty champagne bottles - I will always remember that", though adding that the BBC had "perhaps fallen out of love with Labour" in more recent years.
In September 2007, it was announced that she would leave Five Live after 13 years and on Monday 8 October 2007 she joined BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
programme as the second principal presenter, succeeding Martha Kearney
Martha Kearney
Martha Catherine Kearney is an Irish-born British broadcaster and journalist. She is the main presenter of BBC Radio 4's lunchtime news programme The World at One.-Early life:...
in the role. She created a minor stir in February 2008 in a Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
interview, describing Woman's Hour as too middle-class and fixated on cooking.
On Monday 24 January 2011, while presenting Woman's Hour, Garvey asked a guest why the title role of the film Gandhi was "played by a white man".
Personal life
Garvey married the television presenter Adrian ChilesAdrian Chiles
Adrian Chiles is a British television and radio presenter, currently working for ITV Sport presenting football coverage....
in September 1998 in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. They have lived in Shepherds Bush, west London and they have two daughters, both born in Hammersmith and Fulham
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is a London borough in West London, and forms part of Inner London. Traversed by the east-west main roads of the A4 Great West Road and the A40 Westway, many international corporations have offices in the borough....
, London: Evelyn Katarina (born January 2000) and Sian Mary (born March 2003). Chiles is a well known dedicated West Bromwich Albion fan, and when asked whether West Brom would be promoted that season, Garvey commented: "I flaming hope not. Last time Albion got promoted, I gave birth nine months later."
In June 2008, Chiles and Garvey separated; they divorced in October 2009.
External links
- Radio Five Live profile (broken link)
- Independent 2004 article