Jim Wilson (born 29 December 1967 in Southport, Queensland)[1] is an Australian sports journalist, reporter and radio presenter.
Jim Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 December 1967 Southport, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1992−present |
| Spouse | |
Wilson has previously had a 28 year career at the Seven Network as a sport presenter, reporter and sports editor for Seven News initially starting in the Melbourne newsroom before moving to Sydney. Prior to joining the Seven Network he was a sport reporter at the Nine Network in Brisbane.[2]
Career
editWilson made Australian television history in August 2012 when he replaced Tony Squires as sports presenter on Seven News Sydney. This was the first time a married couple has anchored an Australian news bulletin as Wilson is married to Seven News presenter Chris Bath.[1][3]
In August 2013, Jim was appointed sport presenter on a revamped Seven Afternoon News. Since February 2017, Wilson has also presented the sport on the Tuesday to Friday editions of Seven Morning News.
Wilson was also a reporter for the Seven Network during the 2012 London Olympics, appearing on various Seven Network news bulletins and programs. This was also the sixth time Jim had covered the Olympics, either as a reporter or as a commentator.
Wilson anchored the panel for Seven's coverage of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs' friendly matches against Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC respectively in 2013 and 2015. He is a Western Sydney Wanderers fan, and was an official ambassador for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which was hosted by Australia.[4]
In March 2016, it was announced that Wilson would lead Seven's sport team and continue to present sport on Seven News on Fridays and Saturdays, making way for new recruit Mel McLaughlin.[5]
Wilson was the lead anchor of Seven's coverage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
In 2018, it was announced that Wilson will host Seven's coverage of the Big Bash League and Women's Big Bash League.
In June 2020, Wilson announced his resignation from the Seven Network, leaving the network after 28 years to join 2GB as Drive presenter replacing Ben Fordham.[6][7] Jim finished with the Seven Network on 27 June. In November 2022, Wilson announced that he will host his last 2GB Drive radio show on 10 November 2022. It was later announced that Nine News reporter Chris O'Keefe will replace Wilson. In February 2023, it was announced that Wilson had parted ways with the Nine Network.
Personal life
editIn late 2008, Wilson separated from his first wife Jackie,[8] with whom he had two sons.[9] In December 2008 Wilson started dating journalist, radio and television personality Chris Bath.[8]
In 2009, Wilson's younger son was diagnosed at age 5 with an aggressive brain cancer;[9][10][11] he died 8 months later in April 2010.[10][11]
On 12 January 2012 Wilson and Bath were married at a private family gathering in the Hunter Valley after dating for three years.[9][12]
Wilson's older sister Rebecca Wilson, also a sports journalist, died on 7 October 2016 from breast cancer.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Channel 7 star Chris Bath marries sports reporter Jim Wilson in a secret wedding ceremony". The Telegraph. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ Joshi, Kruti (10 August 2017). "Seven sports guru Jim Wilson on his three decades in sport". MediaWeek. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Jim Wilson joins wife Chris Bath in Seven News revamp". TV Tonight. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ "Channel 7 sports reporter and diehard Western Sydney Wanderers fan Jim Wilson is seeing red". The Daily Telegraph. 21 November 2014.
- ^ "Sport reporter Mel McLaughlin is the new face of Seven's sports coverage". 27 March 2016.
- ^ "Jim Wilson to host 2GB Drive". 2GB. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Jim Wilson named as new host of 2GB's Drive program". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ a b Benns, Matthew (22 December 2008). "Bath dates colleague after 'amicable' split from partner". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ a b c Rocca, Jane (18 March 2018). "Chris Bath: My household is a direct contrast to the one I grew up in". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ a b Wilson, Rebecca (22 April 2012). "There is no mourning that ever surpasses the death of a child". Herald Sun. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ a b Brynes, Holly (16 June 2012). "How Channel 7 sports commentator Jim Wilson took tragedy and changed it into hope". news.com.au. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ Schipp (15 January 2012). "Channel 7 star Chris Bath marries sports reporter Jim Wilson in a secret wedding ceremony?first=Dennie". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ "Rebecca Wilson dead at 54". The Mercury. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "Sports journalist Rebecca Wilson has died". 9news.com.au. AAP. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.