Carolyn Quinn (born 22 July 1961 in Camberwell, London)[1] is a British journalist best known for her work on BBC Radio 4 as a political correspondent and for presenting the Today programme and PM.
Carolyn Quinn | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Quinn (right) interviews Robin Niblett | |
| Born | Carolyn Quinn 22 July 1961 |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Kent |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist Broadcaster |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Notable credit(s) | Today (2004–8) PM The Westminster Hour |
| Spouse | Nigel Morris (m.2003) |
Early life
editQuinn attended St Joseph's RC Primary School in Crayford, Dartford Grammar School for Girls and the University of Kent where she obtained a degree in French.[2] She trained as a teacher, gaining a PGCE at the Institute of Education in London before becoming a French teacher at a London comprehensive school, but gave this up to be a ward clerk at Charing Cross Hospital. She joined Riverside Radio at the hospital.
Career
editShe freelanced before joining the Irish Post and was then selected for a BBC Local Radio trainee scheme. After training and two years at BBC Radio Solent from 1987–9, she joined BBC's political and parliamentary team at Westminster in 1989 and became a political correspondent in 1994.[2]
For 2011–2012 she was elected Chairman of the Houses of Parliament Press Gallery, the first female holder of the post.[3]
BBC Radio 4
editQuinn was a presenter of PM from 2001 and the Today programme from 2004 to 2008,[3] co-presenting her last programme with James Naughtie on Wednesday 26 March 2008. As the programme closed, she invoked Tony Blair's comments upon leaving office as British Prime Minister, wishing well to "friend and foe alike" and referring to a "rollercoaster", indicating that her departure from the programme may have been less than entirely amicable. She presented PM on Saturdays, and covered the weekday edition when Evan Davis was away. She also presented Pick of the Week several times and in January 2007 presented an edition of Woman's Hour.
Quinn became the regular presenter of Radio Four's The Westminster Hour from January 2007 following Andrew Rawnsley's departure in September 2006.
Quinn presented her last edition of PM, on 24 February 2023, announcing that she was retiring from full-time broadcasting.[4] She also presented her last regular programme, The Westminster Hour two days later on 26 February,[5] after hosting the programme for 16 years.[4]
Personal life
editCarolyn Quinn married Nigel Morris, Political Editor of the i newspaper,[6] and former political correspondent of the Daily Mirror, in Richmond upon Thames in June 2003.
She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent in 2013.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Birthdays". The Guardian. London. 22 July 2014. p. 37.
- ^ a b "Carolyn Quinn: My Life In Media". The Independent. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ a b c "Congregations: Carolyn Quinn, Doctor of the University". University of Kent. 2013. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ a b Martin, Roy (26 February 2023). "BBC Radio 4's Carolyn Quinn leaves the BBC after 36 years". Radio Today. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ Quinn, Carolyn [@BBCcarolynquinn] (26 February 2023). "And tonight… for my final Westminster Hour as a BBC staffer, look who dropped in to talk to me and my marvellous Editor Libby Jukes. Hear Sir John Major's thoughts on Northern Ireland and politics in general at 10pm" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Dickson, Annabelle (13 September 2017). "Westminster's power couples". POLITICO. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
External links
edit- Carolyn Quinn at IMDb
- BBC Profile Archived 2012-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- Independent May 2006
- BBC Biography Archived 2009-01-01 at the Wayback Machine
- The Observer January 2007