Jonathan Francis Kay (born 8 November 1969) is an English TV presenter, newsreader and journalist based in the West of England. He is known for his work on BBC News.
Jon Kay | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Kay in 2023 | |
| Born | Jonathan Francis Kay 8 November 1969 Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Alma mater | Exeter University |
| Occupation(s) | Television presenter, journalist |
| Employer | BBC |
| Spouse |
Francesca Kasteliz (m. 1998) |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editKay was born on 8 November 1969 and grew up in Nantwich in Cheshire, with brother Dominic,[1] attending Abbey Gate College, an independent school in Chester.[2] He was head boy, gaining three As and a B in General Studies; he wanted to study English at the University of Oxford. He took a year out, known as a 'gap year'.[3]
From the age of 18 he studied at the University of Exeter in Devon. During his studies there, he spent time in the studios of University Radio Exeter, which led to his decision to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. After graduation with a BA degree in Politics in 1992, he joined the BBC as a trainee local reporter.[4]
Journalism career
editAfter periods at BBC local radio stations, Kay became a full-time reporter for BBC Radio Bristol, making an early documentary on the development of Bradley Stoke.[5]
Kay worked as a regional reporter for BBC Points West and then moved to the capital as a national news correspondent for BBC London News. He is currently a news correspondent for BBC News covering the South-West of the country, but he regularly covers stories in other parts of Britain and around the world. In 2014, Kay reported from Portugal on the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and from Cape Town on the trial of Shrien Dewani (later exonerated for his wife's murder). He was BBC News at Six correspondent during the London Olympics in 2012 and election correspondent during the 2015 general election campaign. Jon Kay is also a regular presenter on BBC Breakfast. In July 2022, it was announced by the BBC that Kay will become the main presenter of BBC Breakfast from Monday to Wednesday.[6]
Personal life
editHis wife's great-great grandmother was Mary Caroline Blair, whose daughter was Countess Ina Bubna-Litic, who married Silvio Kasteliz (1895-1946, originally Kastelic, from Slovenia) in 1931, and her son was his wife's father.
References
edit- ^ Nantwich Chronicle Wednesday 31 December 1980, page 1
- ^ "Chester high school students interview the interviewers". Chester Chronicle. 13 March 2016.
- ^ Nantwich Chronicle Wednesday 7 September 1988, page 11
- ^ "BBC One - Breakfast - Jon Kay". BBC. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ Bradley Stoke: 1994 documentary BBC Bristol, 18 September 2007 Archived 24 July 2012 at archive.today
- ^ "Jon Kay announced as BBC Breakfast presenter and Victoria Derbyshire as Newsnight presenter". BBC. 8 July 2022.