Justin Webb

Last updated

Justin Webb
Justinwebbbbc.jpg
Webb in 2009
Born (1961-01-03) 3 January 1961 (age 63)
NationalityBritish
Education Sidcot School
Alma mater London School of Economics
Occupation Journalist
Years active1984–present
Notable credit(s) BBC News, Today
TitleNorth America Editor of BBC News (2007–2009)
SpouseSarah Gordon
Children1 son, 2 daughters
Parents
Relatives Gregory Woods (cousin)

Justin Oliver Webb (born Justin Oliver Prouse; [1] born 3 January 1961 [2] ) is a British journalist who has worked for the BBC since 1984. He is a former BBC North America Editor and the main co-presenter of BBC One's Breakfast News programme. Since August 2009, he has co-presented the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, [3] and also regularly writes for the Radio Times .

Contents

Early life

In an article in the Radio Times in January 2011, Webb revealed that his natural father was Peter Woods who was formerly a reporter with the Daily Mirror and later became a BBC newsreader. [4] [5] Woods was married and Webb's mother, then Gloria Crocombe (daughter of Leonard Crocombe, first editor of the Radio Times ), [6] was a secretary at the Daily Mirror and was divorced from her first husband at the time of the affair with Woods. [7] Webb commented that his mother's split from Woods may have been as much her doing as his, saying "I do not believe she was abandoned". [4] Woods provided financially for Webb but saw his son only once, when he was six months old.[ citation needed ] Webb took the surname of his stepfather when his mother remarried in 1964. [1]

Webb's cousin is Gregory Woods, whose mother, Charmion, was the elder sister of Webb's mother, Gloria (despite the shared surname of "Woods", Peter Woods and Gregory Woods are unrelated). [8] Webb grew up in Bath. [9] He was privately educated at the independent Sidcot School, a Quaker school in Somerset, and the London School of Economics, where he wrote articles for student newspaper The Beaver .

Career

Webb joined the BBC as a graduate trainee in 1984 working in Northern Ireland for BBC Radio Ulster based in Belfast. He then worked as a reporter for BBC Radio 4's Today programme, before becoming a foreign affairs correspondent based in London and covering news around the world. He reported on the Gulf War and the war in Bosnia, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the first democratic elections in South Africa.

He then became a BBC News presenter based in London, and the main presenter on BBC One's Breakfast News programme from 1992 to 1997. He also presented the BBC's One and Six O'Clock News bulletins and presented BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight from 1997–1998. From 1998 he spent three years working as the BBC's Europe correspondent based in Brussels. During that time he reported on the workings of the European Commission and Parliament, the politics surrounding Britain's decision on whether to join the single currency and the enlargement on the European Union.[ citation needed ]

In 2001, Webb moved to the United States, as the BBC's chief Washington correspondent. [10] Much of his time was spent on local Washington Radio, including, WAMU, a public radio station, on The Diane Rehm Show . In 2006, at a seminar on impartiality, Webb said the BBC was anti-American and treated the US with "scorn and derision", according it "no moral weight".[ citation needed ] He has also presented a Radio 4 series on anti-Americanism. [11] In December 2007, he became North American Editor for BBC News, a role newly created in time for the American presidential election of 2008. [12] He replaced Matt Frei who moved to present the new World News America bulletin.[ citation needed ]

In August 2009, Webb returned to the UK to replace Edward Stourton on BBC Radio 4's early morning news programme Today . [3] In October 2017, Webb disclosed that his presenting colleague Nick Robinson was being paid £100,000 more than him, for doing "essentially the same job". Webb's pay amounted to £200,000, whilst Robinson's reached £300,000, despite Webb joining the programme six years before. [13] Webb promoted that the era of the "big beast" news anchor would likely be drawing to a close, with the "very well-paid" John Humphrys and Huw Edwards "in the firing line". [14]

Webb received criticism for appearing to endorse the view that: "antisemitism is a bit like the way some of our people might regard anti-white racism, that actually it's a different order of racism. It's not as important – it's still bad – but it's not as important as some other forms of racism..." on the BBC on 12 March 2019; a BBC spokesperson clarified that he was "not expressing any personal view" and that Webb "is the first to admit he should have phrased his question better." [15] [16] [17]

Transgender issues

In September 2021, Webb asked Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, if there should "not be spaces where biological males cannot go?" in reference to trans women. Webb was later cited in a CNN article which suggested that "Anti-trans rhetoric" was rife in the British media. [18]

In February 2022, the BBC said that Webb was not sufficiently accurate when he described the philosophy professor Kathleen Stock – who resigned following protests over her views on gender identity and transgender rights – as being "falsely" accused of transphobia. However, the BBC said that it was accurate to describe her as a subject of abuse by students. [19]

Personal life

Webb married his long-term partner Sarah Gordon in the early 2000s. They have three children together: Martha, Sam and Clara. When living in the United States, their son Sam fell ill and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. As a result, Webb experienced the United States healthcare system first-hand. His son commonly joins his father in speaking about the disease. In 2012, Webb joined son Sam at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, meeting Queen Camilla (then Duchess of Cornwall) as she visited the facilities. She later became a Royal Patron of the children's charity, JDRF, a charity which Webb supports on a regular basis. [20]

In August 2009, Webb returned to Britain with his wife and children. They currently live in Camberwell, South London. In 2008, his mother, Gloria, died and he inherited her home in Bath, Somerset. [21]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<i>Today</i> (BBC Radio 4) BBC Radio 4s long-running early morning news and current affairs programme

Today, colloquially known as the Today programme, is BBC Radio 4's long-running morning news and current-affairs radio programme. Broadcast on Monday to Saturday from 06:00 to 09:00, it is produced by BBC News and is the highest-rated programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks. In-depth political interviews and reports are interspersed with regular news bulletins, as well as Thought for the Day. It has been voted the most influential news programme in Britain in setting the political agenda, with an average weekly listening audience around 6 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dale Winton</span> English radio DJ and television presenter (1955–2018)

Dale Jonathan Winton was an English radio DJ and television presenter. He presented the shows Supermarket Sweep from 1993 until 2001 and again in 2007, the National Lottery game show In It to Win It between 2002 and 2016 and the 2008 series of Hole in the Wall. Winton also presented Pets Win Prizes (1995–96) and The Other Half (1997–2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Cullum</span> English jazz-pop singer, songwriter and radio presenter (born 1979)

Jamie Cullum is an English jazz-pop singer, pianist, songwriter and radio presenter. Although primarily a vocalist and pianist, he also accompanies himself on other instruments, including guitar and drums. He has recorded nine studio albums, three compilation albums, one live album and twenty-four singles. Since April 2010, he has presented a weekly Tuesday evening jazz show on BBC Radio 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melvyn Bragg</span> British broadcaster and author (born 1939)

Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg, is an English broadcaster, author and parliamentarian. He is the editor and presenter of The South Bank Show, and the presenter of the BBC Radio 4 documentary series In Our Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria Hunniford</span> Northern Irish television presenter

Mary Winifred Gloria Hunniford, OBE is a television and radio presenter, broadcaster and singer originally from Northern Ireland. She is known for presenting programmes on the BBC and ITV, such as Rip Off Britain, and her regular appearances as a panellist on Loose Women. She has been a regular reporter on This Morning and The One Show. She also had a singing career between the 1960s and 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiona Bruce</span> British journalist and TV presenter (born 1964)

Fiona Elizabeth Bruce is a British journalist, newsreader, and television presenter. She joined the BBC as a researcher for their current affairs program Panorama in 1989, and became the first female newsreader on BBC News at Ten, as well as presenting many other flagship programmes for the corporation, including BBC News at Six, Crimewatch, Real Story, Antiques Roadshow, and Fake or Fortune? Since 10 January 2019, she has been the presenter of the BBC One television programme Question Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC Radio Bristol</span> Radio station in Bath and Bristol

BBC Radio Bristol is the BBC's local radio station serving the cities of Bristol and Bath and the unitary authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Raworth</span> English journalist, newsreader and broadcaster (born 1968)

Sophie Jane Raworth is an English journalist, newsreader and broadcaster working for the BBC. She is a senior newsreader and is one of the main presenters of BBC News. She has been a television presenter for state occasions and has also presented the BBC's Election Night coverage, alongside other presenters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Stourton (journalist)</span> British broadcaster and journalist, born 1957

Edward John Ivo Stourton is a British broadcaster and presenter of the BBC Radio 4 programme Sunday, and was a frequent contributor to the Today programme, where for ten years he was one of the main presenters. He is the author of eight books, most recently Confessions (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Yates</span> British actor and media personality (born 1983)

Reginald Yates is a British television presenter, actor, writer and director with a career spanning three decades on screen as an actor, television presenter and radio DJ. Yates played Leo Jones in Doctor Who and has worked at the BBC in radio and television–presenting various shows for BBC Radio 1 for a decade as well as hosting the BBC One singing show The Voice UK, hosting the first two series with Holly Willoughby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ade Adepitan</span> British television presenter and sportsman

Adedoyin Olayiwola "Ade" Adepitan is a Nigerian-born British television presenter and wheelchair basketball player. As a presenter, he has hosted a range of travel documentaries and sports programmes for BBC television. Adepitan is a disability advocate and one of the first physically disabled television presenters in the UK, with a career of over 20 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Davies (football administrator)</span> British broadcaster and consultant

David Davies is a British broadcaster and consultant, formerly the executive director of the Football Association in England. He is a regular contributor to BBC News television and radio programmes and other networks. Since retiring from the FA, he has worked as a consultant to sporting and other organisations worldwide. Today he is a consultant with Portland Communications, based in London, advising on sport and other subjects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Davis</span> British economist, journalist and presenter

Evan Harold Davis is an English broadcaster and former economist. Working for the BBC, he has presented Dragons' Den on BBC Television since 2005, and PM on BBC Radio 4 since 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendy Austin</span> Northern Irish journalist

Wendy Elizabeth Austin Hewitt is a former BBC journalist and broadcaster in BBC Northern Ireland, and former presenter of BBC Radio Ulster's current affairs programme Talkback.

Oludotun Davey Moore "Dotun" Adebayo is a British radio presenter, writer, and publisher. He is best known for his work on Up All Night on BBC Radio 5 Live, as well as the former obituary programme Brief Lives.

<i>Your Hundred Best Tunes</i> Radio programme

Your Hundred Best Tunes was a BBC radio music programme, always broadcast on Sunday evenings, which presented popular works which were mostly classical excerpts, choral works, opera and ballads. The hundred tunes which made up the playlist were initially selected by the creator and presenter, Alan Keith. Subsequently, tunes were suggested by requests and polls of listeners.

Gregory Woods is a British poet. He was the Chair in Gay and Lesbian Studies at Nottingham Trent University from 1998 to 2013. He is the author of five books of literary and LGBT studies criticism, and seven poetry collections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naga Munchetty</span> British journalist and television presenter

Subha Nagalakshmi Munchetty-Chendriah, known professionally as Naga Munchetty, is an English television presenter, newsreader and journalist. She is a regular presenter on BBC Breakfast. She is also a former presenter of BBC World News and BBC Two's weekday financial affairs programme Working Lunch.

Geoffrey Wheeler was an English broadcaster, who presented and developed a range of factual and entertainment programmes on radio and television, including the BBC's Songs of Praise and Top of the Form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GB News</span> British television news channel

GB News is a British free-to-air far-right opinion-orientated television and radio news channel. The channel is available on Freeview, Freesat, Sky, YouView, Virgin Media and via the internet on Samsung TV Plus, Rakuten TV and YouTube. An audio simulcast of the station is also available on DAB+ radio.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bingham, John & Singh, Anita (18 January 2011). "BBC's Justin Webb reveals his real father was newsreader Peter Woods". The Telegraph . London. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011.
  2. "Webb, Justin Oliver". Who's Who 2016 . London: A & C Black. 2016. p. 2434. ISBN   978-1472904706.
  3. 1 2 "Justin Webb joins Radio 4's Today programme presenting team" (Press release). London: BBC. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  4. 1 2 "Today host Justin Webb names his father as Peter Woods". BBC News. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  5. Robinson, James (18 January 2011). "BBC's Justin Webb reveals father was 1970s newscaster". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  6. Calkin, Jessamy (3 April 2021). "Broadcaster Justin Webb: 'I'm happy my children have had a different upbringing to me'". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  7. Justin Webb Obituary: Gloria Webb, theguardian.com, 2 October 2006. Still an unnamed "married man" at this point.
  8. Hutton, Caroline (28 June 2023). "Justin Webb and his poet cousin on their mothers' rivalry". The Sunday Times . London. ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  9. "Bath man Justin Webb reveals hidden identity of his secret father". Bath Chronicle. 18 January 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  10. "Justin Webb". BBC News. 30 March 2004.
  11. Holmwood, Leigh (5 November 2007). "Webb steps up in North America for BBC". The Guardian.
  12. "BBC appoints North America editor". Digital Spy. 6 November 2007.
  13. Furness, Hannah (15 October 2017). "New BBC row: Justin Webb asks why Nick Robinson is paid £100k more than him to do 'same job'". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  14. Singh, Anita (27 March 2018). "Justin Webb: could the Today programme survive – and thrive – without John Humphrys?". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  15. Jack Sommers (13 March 2019). "BBC presenter admits he 'should have phrased antisemitism question better'". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  16. Frot, Mathilde. "BBC presenter 'did not mean to suggest' antisemitism is not important". jewishnews.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  17. Oster, Marcy. "BBC news host suggests anti-Semitism isn't as bad as other forms of racism". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  18. John, Tara (9 October 2021). "Analysis: Anti-trans rhetoric is rife in the British media. Little is being done to extinguish the flames". CNN.
  19. Waterson, Jim (7 February 2022). "BBC rebukes Justin Webb over comment on Kathleen Stock row". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  20. Webb, Justin (5 January 2009). "Health care heartbreak". BBC. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  21. "Radio 4's Justin Webb. His son has since recovered". Southwark Borough Council.
  22. Rogers, Richard (6 June 2009). "Review: Have a Nice Day by Justin Webb". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 27 May 2019.
Media offices
Preceded by
None
North America Editor: BBC News
2007–2009
Succeeded by