Kirsty Wark

Biography

Kirsty Wark was Newsnight's longest-serving presenter who has combined political and news coverage with a passion for arts and culture. Alongside 30 years fronting BBC2’s flagship news programme, she hosted its sister arts strand Newsnight Review, and the channel’s annual review of the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition. As well as being presented with a BAFTA Fellowship for her journalism and presenting, she has also been one of Scotland’s leading independent programme makers for over three decades.

After joining the BBC as a radio researcher, Kirsty soon became a producer on Good Morning Scotland and the political discussion show, Order Order. After a spell on Radio 4’s World at One, she moved in front of the camera to present Breakfast Time, Seven Days and the youth series Words Apart. As well as television news, Kirsty has hosted a variety of radio programmes, including Radio 4's The Reunion, which reunites groups of people from historically or culturally significant events or projects, and Front Row, the station's daily review of arts and culture.

Kirsty has covered many of the most notable events in modern Scottish history, from dramatic election results to the opening of the Holyrood Parliament. She has fronted The Book Quiz and coverage of The Proms, and documentaries covering subjects from the Suffragettes to a history of Scottish television. She has combined interviewing pop stars and Nobel laureates with cameos in everything from the Absolutely Fabulous film to Doctor Who to The IT Crowd. Kirsty also reached the finals of Celebrity MasterChef, has appeared on Would I Lie to You? and Have I Got News For You, and is an acclaimed novelist.