Shefali Oza
Encyclopedia
Shefali Oza is a news presenter on BBC Birmingham
's Midlands Today
, the regional news programme broadcast in the Midlands
of England
. She is now one of the programme's main anchors but began her career with the team as Midlands Today' s first ever weather presenter in January 1993.
's Multi-Cultural Programmes Unit, who were actually in search of new faces for Network East.
Oza was one of the first frequent Asian
faces on television in the region and has become the most recognisable of weather reporters on local news programmes. Since jonining Midlands Today in 1993 her role has evolved from simply reporting the weather to producing weather related news and community features. One of her major recent achievements came as part of one of her features when she became the first female civilian to spend a week on the Royal Navy
submarine HMS Splendid
. She was awarded an Honorary Masters for 'her contribution to the region through her many broadcasts'.
Along with weather reporting and news presenting, Oza has fronted regional
contributions to the BBC's live national programming and campaigns such as Children in Need
.
Oza recently presented a paranormal series, Shef to Chef and now has her own website
.
ceremony was featured on the news programme, although she is now divorced. Before her media career, Oza trained as a solicitor
. Her father is a GP
based in Nottingham
. She currently resides in Birmingham
.
BBC Birmingham
BBC Birmingham is one of the oldest regional arms of the BBC, located in Birmingham, West Midlands. It was the first region outside of London to start broadcasting both the corporation's radio and television transmissions, the latter from the Sutton Coldfield television transmitter...
's Midlands Today
Midlands Today
Midlands Today is the BBC's regional television news programme for the West Midlands region, which covers the north of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands county...
, the regional news programme broadcast in the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She is now one of the programme's main anchors but began her career with the team as Midlands Today
Career
Oza is said to have been "discovered at an audition day" which had been organised by the BBCBBC
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...
's Multi-Cultural Programmes Unit, who were actually in search of new faces for Network East.
Oza was one of the first frequent Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
faces on television in the region and has become the most recognisable of weather reporters on local news programmes. Since jonining Midlands Today in 1993 her role has evolved from simply reporting the weather to producing weather related news and community features. One of her major recent achievements came as part of one of her features when she became the first female civilian to spend a week on the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
submarine HMS Splendid
HMS Splendid
Four ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Splendid.* The first Splendid was listed in 1597, with an unknown fate.* The second Splendid was an S class destroyer, launched in 1918, and sold in 1931....
. She was awarded an Honorary Masters for 'her contribution to the region through her many broadcasts'.
Along with weather reporting and news presenting, Oza has fronted regional
Régional
Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne, or Régional for short, is a subsidiary airline wholly owned by Air France which connects hubs at Paris, Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Bordeaux to 49 airports in Europe. The airline operates in Air France livery, retaining its name in small titles and logo on...
contributions to the BBC's live national programming and campaigns such as 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...
.
Oza recently presented a paranormal series, Shef to Chef and now has her own website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
.
Personal life
During her time on Midlands Today, Oza met her husband who worked as her cameraman. Their weddingWedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
ceremony was featured on the news programme, although she is now divorced. Before her media career, Oza trained as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
. Her father is a GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
based in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. She currently resides in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.