Rosie Millard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rosemary Harriet Millard 17 April 1965 London, England |
| Education | |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, writer, broadcaster |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | BBC Arts Correspondent, Hull City of Culture 2017, Bonnes Vacances, BBC Children in Need resignation |
| Spouse | Pip Clothier (divorced) |
| Partner | Alex Graham |
| Children | 4 |
| Honours | Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) |
| Website | rosiemillard |
Rosemary Harriet Millard OBE (born 17 April 1965) is a British journalist, writer, and broadcaster known for her work in arts journalism, cultural leadership, and literature. [1] She chairs Firstsite gallery in Colchester and serves as Vice Chair of Opera North, having previously chaired BBC Children in Need (2018–2024) and Hull City of Culture 2017. [2] [3] Millard was the BBC's Arts Correspondent from 1995 to 2004 and has contributed to The Times , The Independent , The Spectator , and The Telegraph . [4] She has authored four books, including the travel memoir Bonnes Vacances (2011) and the novel The Square (2015). [5] [6] In 2018, she was appointed an OBE for services to the arts in Hull, and in 2024, she resigned from BBC Children in Need amid controversy over grant allocations. [7] [8]
Millard was educated at Wimbledon High School, an independent girls' school in southwest London, and participated in a US high school exchange through the English-Speaking Union. [9] She earned a BA in English and Drama from the University of Hull, followed by studies at the London College of Communication and the Courtauld Institute of Art. [10] In 2018, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hull for her cultural contributions to the city. [11]
Millard began her career in 1988 as a junior researcher on Granada Television's This Morning . [1] In 1995, she became the BBC's Arts Correspondent, a role she held until 2004, earning recognition for her accessible coverage of cultural events. [1] [10] She also served as Arts Editor and theatre critic for New Statesman and contributed profiles to The Sunday Times . [4]
Described as a "witty and authoritative" commentator, Millard has written for The Times , The Independent , The Spectator , The Telegraph , and ArtReview , covering arts, travel, and lifestyle. [1] [4] [12] She authored the "Mr and Mrs Millard" column for The Times 's Body and Soul section and presents BBC Radio 4's Saturday Review, while reviewing newspapers for Sky News and ITV. [1] [13] Her BBC Radio 4 documentaries include In Defence of Pushy Parents (2012), Stories from The Squeezed Middle (2013), and Towering Ambition (2014), exploring urban architecture. [1] [14] She appears on Newsnight, BBC Radio 5 Live, and Jeremy Vine on Radio 2, and co-produced Kick Out The Jams (2013), an ITV Perspectives documentary on Young British Artists. [1] [11]
In 2014, Millard was appointed Chair of Hull City of Culture 2017, leading a programme that attracted 5 million visitors and generated £220 million in economic impact, earning her an OBE in 2018 for services to the arts in Hull. [3] [7] [11] [15] Her advocacy highlighted Hull's cultural renaissance, describing it as a city "on the cusp of change." [15] She served as CEO of Children and the Arts (2015–2018) and Chair of BBC Children in Need (2018–2024), resigning in 2024 after raising concerns about £460,000 in grants to LGBT Youth Scotland, a charity linked to historic abuse allegations. [8] [16] Millard denied transphobia allegations, emphasizing child safeguarding. [8] [2] She chairs Firstsite gallery and the Philip Larkin Society (since 2022), serves as Vice Chair of Opera North, and is a trustee for the Carnegie UK Foundation and other arts organisations. [17] [10]
In November 2024, Rosie Millard resigned as Chair of BBC Children in Need, a position she held since 2018, citing concerns over £460,000 in grants awarded to LGBT Youth Scotland, a charity linked to historic abuse allegations. [8] [18] In a resignation letter to the charity's board, Millard accused the organisation of "institutional failure" and criticised chief executive Simon Antrobus for "dithering" in addressing her concerns about the grants, which were awarded between 2017 and 2023. [19] The controversy centred on LGBT Youth Scotland's former chief executive, James Rennie, convicted in 2009 of child sex offences, and historic allegations of abuse linked to the charity, which Millard argued raised safeguarding concerns. [18] [16]
Millard's resignation sparked significant media attention and public debate. In her letter, she claimed she was "thrown under the bus" by the charity for raising safeguarding issues, asserting that whistleblowers faced retaliation. [20] In interviews, Millard defended her decision, stating, "If protecting children from harm makes me a Terf, then I'm proud to be one," in response to accusations of transphobia, emphasizing that her concerns were rooted in child safety, not ideological opposition to transgender issues. [8] [20] [21] She highlighted the charity's failure to conduct adequate due diligence on grant recipients. [8] [21]
LGBT Youth Scotland strongly rebutted Millard's claims, accusing her of using historic allegations to "destroy our reputation" and suggesting her resignation was "ideologically driven." [2] [22] The charity noted that the grants supported youth programmes and that it had implemented robust safeguarding measures since the 2009 conviction. [2] BBC Children in Need acknowledged Millard's contributions, stating she oversaw six appeals and raised over £257 million, but did not directly address her allegations. [23]
The resignation drew varied reactions. Some media outlets and commentators praised Millard's stance on safeguarding, while others, including LGBT Youth Scotland and advocacy groups, condemned her letter as inflammatory and harmful to transgender youth. [24] [25] The controversy underscored broader debates about charity governance, due diligence, and the balance between safeguarding and inclusivity. [16] [21]
Millard has authored four books:
Millard presented Croissants in the Jungle (2011), a six-part Travel Channel series documenting her family's journey through French Overseas Territories, complementing Bonnes Vacances. [5] She co-produced Kick Out The Jams (2013) for ITV's Perspectives, exploring the legacy of Young British Artists. [11]
In 2018, Millard underwent surgery to remove a large brain tumour, sharing her experience in a blog for Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness and support research funding. [27] She described the diagnosis and recovery as a transformative challenge. [27]
Millard lives in Islington, north London, with her partner Alex Graham. [13] She has four children with her ex-husband, Pip Clothier, from whom she is divorced. [13] An avid marathon runner, Millard has completed twelve marathons, including the Great Wall of China Marathon and the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, with a personal best of 3:48. [11] She co-founded the Second South Islington Brownies and served as a Brownie leader, reflecting her community engagement. [13]