Clive Augustus Myrie (born 25 August 1964) is a British journalist of Jamaican descent, a newsreader and presenter who works for the BBC. He is one of the BBC's chief news presenters and correspondents, as well as their election results presenter.[1] Since August 2021 he has been the host of the long-running BBC quiz shows Mastermind and Celebrity Mastermind.[2]
Myrie joined the BBC in 1987 as a trainee local radio reporter,[8] on the Corporation's graduate journalism programme.[6] His first assignment was as a reporter for Radio Bristol in 1988, returning to the BBC after a year with Independent Radio News. He then reported for Points West, and latterly BBC Television and Radio News.
In 1996, he became a BBC foreign correspondent and has since reported from more than 90 countries.[9] He initially became the BBC's Tokyo correspondent, and was then the Los Angeles correspondent from 1997 to 1999. He was appointed BBC Asia Correspondent in 2002 and was Paris correspondent from 2006 to 2007. His career has encompassed major stories such as the impeachment of U.S. President Bill Clinton, and wars in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. During the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces in March 2003, Myrie was an embedded correspondent with 40 Commando Royal Marines, joining them initially on HMS Ocean and subsequently during operations on the Al-Faw Peninsula. Due to the danger this particular assignment posed, Myrie had to write a "goodbye" letter to his family, in case of his death.[10]
After latterly serving as Europe correspondent based in Brussels,[6] he was appointed a presenter on the BBC News Channel in April 2009, replacing the retired Chris Lowe.[11] Since joining BBC News, Myrie has presented the BBC Weekend News and weekend editions of BBC News at Ten and BBC Breakfast, both on BBC One. In June 2014, he began presenting weekday bulletins on BBC One.
In September 2010, Myrie broke the story that ETA had declared a unilateral ceasefire after he met an ETA operative in Paris, who handed over a tape of the organisation's leaders making the declaration.[12]
He has presented the 18:30-to-midnight slot, Monday to Thursday, on the BBC News Channel. During the 2015 general election, he was the main presenter of Election Tonight at 19:30 and 21:30. Since 2019, Myrie has focused on BBC One network bulletins with the evening shift presented by a set of relief presenters.
Myrie reported extensively from Kathmandu on the earthquake that struck the city on 25 April 2015, including the rescues of two Nepali citizens who were found alive under two collapsed buildings on 30 April 2015.[13] In October 2017, Myrie visited Bangladesh to report on the Rohingya refugee crisis.[14]
Myrie hosted a documentary series on Jazz FM entitled The Definitive History of Jazz In Britain, broadcasting over ten weeks from 4 April to 6 June 2021.[19][20] He also occasionally presents classical music on BBC Radio 3.[21]
In February 2022, he travelled to Ukraine and was the anchor for BBC coverage of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[22][23] In one report on the invasion, Myrie stated that he and other journalists were staying in the city as "We all want to tell the story of this war, and we want to tell it accurately."[24][25] On 8 March, he announced his return to the UK but promised he would return to the warzone.[26]
On 16 June 2023, Myrie hosted Have I Got News for You, for the fourth time, and poked fun at the past seven days’ new stories, particularly around former prime minister Boris Johnson. It was later claimed that he was "pulled" from that night's BBC News At Ten as a result.[30] He later explained that the two shows had been just "too close" together.[31]
In July 2023, Myrie became the Pro Chancellor of the University of Bolton. He said "The University of Bolton in my home town is one of the most socially inclusive universities in the UK. ... In a world where trade, commerce and culture are becoming ever more connected, your experience of studying in a diverse environment will prove to be a source of strength for many years to come."[32]
In March 2024, the BBC announced Myrie's second travelogue series Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure will air in 2024.[33]
Clive Myrie is also Chancellor of University of the Arts London, and attended his first graduation ceremony in that role at The Royal Festival Hall, London, on 16th July 2024.
Personal life
Myrie is married to Catherine Myrie, an upholsterer and furniture restorer.[6][37] Myrie met his wife, who then worked in publishing, at the 1992 London launch of a book about Swiss cheeses.[38] According to Myrie, she "gave me the courage and space to pursue my dreams."[5] They live in Islington, North London.[7][39]
Myrie enjoys going to the cinema and his favourite music genre is jazz, which he discovered at university.[40] While at school, he learned to play the violin and the trumpet and played in the local youth orchestra; appearing on Saturday Live in February 2022 his Inheritance Tracks were "Welcome to My World" by Jim Reeves and "So What" by Miles Davis.[4] He is a supporter of Manchester City F.C.[41]
Myrie has experienced racist abuse, which has included death threats, and been the recipient of a card, with a gorilla on the front, which read: "We don't want people like you on our TV screens."[42] In October 2019, Ian Hargreaves, a 66-year-old man from Leeds, was jailed for 18 months at Leeds Crown Court for sending electronic death threats towards Myrie and motorsport commentator Jack Nicholls; Myrie said in a victim statement that he found the threats "deeply troubling".[43][44]
In 2016, he received an honorary doctorate from Staffordshire University.[48] In 2019, the University of Sussex awarded him a "Doctor of the University" degree.[50] In 2022, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Social Science for his outstanding contribution to broadcasting, television and society from the University of Bolton, which he described as "an honour".[51][32]
In July 2023, Myrie received an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts (HonDA) from Edge Hill University.[52]
In the RTS Television Journalism Awards 2021, Myrie was named both "Television Journalist of the Year" and "Network Presenter of the Year",[53] winning the accolades "for his versatile, measured and compelling style".[54]
Books
Clive Myrie: The Biography (Independently published, July 2023), ISBN9798853934412[55]
Mastermind is a British television quiz show for the BBC, currently presented by Clive Myrie. Its creator, Bill Wright, drew inspiration from his experiences of being interrogated by the Gestapo during World War II. The show features an intimidating setting and challenging questions. Four contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the contestant's choice, the other a general knowledge round.
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↑ Singh, Anita (23 August 2021). "Mastermind is in safe hands with new host Clive Myrie". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 August 2021– via www.telegraph.co.uk. Myrie did a fine job in his first show since taking over from former presenter John Humphrys
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