Jenni Murray DBE began her broadcasting career in local radio in Bristol as a presenter and producer of a daily mid morning programme of phone ins, current events and music. She went on to become a television presenter, reporter and documentary maker, first in Leeds and then on South Today in Southampton.
In the early eighties she became a presenter and reporter on Newsnight, joined Today as a presenter on Radio 4 in 1986 and, in late 1987, became the presenter of Woman’s Hour on Radio 4.
She has interviewed every Prime Minister of the last thirty years, is as comfortable with high powered politicians as with the grieving parents of Madeleine McCann and the first Hollywood star she encountered was Bette Davies. There have been many more. She was a frequent presenter of radio 3’s Sunday morning programme during her years in Manchester.The late foreign correspondent, Charles Wheeler, described Jenni as having ‘the most beautiful voice on the radio – ever.’
Jenni has made numerous television documentaries including the Duchy of Cornwall with Prince Charles for BBC 2 and Right to Die for Channel Five. She was one of the presenters, along with Paul Heiney, of ITV’s This Sunday Morning and was twice the winner of The Weakest Link. In December 2020 she surprised many by taking part in ITV’s The Real Full Monty to great acclaim. The announcement of her participation made front page news.
She has hosted award ceremonies for a range of clients, most recently for women in the armed forces. She is sought after as an after dinner speaker, conference chair and inspirational speaker on subjects and for clients as wide ranging as the NSPCC, a rugby club, women in the law and personal assistants.
She writes regularly for a number of publications, including a weekly column in the Daily Mail and is the author of several books including, most recently, A History of Britain in 21 Women, A History of the World in 21 Women and Fat Cow, Fat Chance.
Jenni presented a podcast for the organisation Now Teach who encourage people changing their careers to consider teaching.
Jenni has won many awards including the Broadcasting Press Guild Radio Broadcaster of the Year in 1995, Sony Best Interview in 2010 and the Sony Gold Award for Outstanding Career Achievement in 2011.
In 2011 she became Dame Jenni Murray in recognition of her contribution to broadcasting.
