Celebrating women
In a historically male-dominated industry, we take a look at the powerful women who are taking over the world of radio
Kate Garraway
Kate joined ITV back in 1989, at which time she was also presenting on BBC Radio Oxford. After over two decades in TV, Kate returned to her radio roots in 2012 when she co-presented two episodes of Radio 1’s Weekend Breakfast, and since March 2014, she has presented Mid Mornings with Kate Garraway every weekday on Smooth Radio. Being on-air is clearly something that brings Kate, 57, joy, as when she returned to Smooth Radio following the death of her husband, Derek Draper, earlier this year, she said, ‘I have missed you and it’s so lovely to be back.’
Anita Rani
Following Emma Barnett’s exit, Anita, 46, went from presenting Woman’s Hour on Fridays and Saturdays – which she’d been doing since 2021 and has described as a ‘gift’ – to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. While Anita, who began her career as a researcher for the BBC after studying broadcasting at the University of Leeds, is more well known for her TV work in recent years – namely Countryfile – her radio career dates back to 2005, when she joined the BBC Asian Network radio station and became presenter of the weekend Hot Breakfast show. From April 2006 to March 2007, Anita also presented the weekday morning talkback programme, Anita Rani on the BBC Asian Network.
Margherita Taylor MBE
Escape to the Country presenter Margherita, 51, won a radio competition after graduating from the University of Central England (now Birmingham City University), which gave her the chance to work at her local radio station. ‘I hit it lucky by winning a Search for a Star competition run by the Birmingham-based radio station BRMB. I had always been into television but I fell in love with radio,’ she said. Margherita, who was awarded an MBE last year for her services to broadcasting and diversity, is now a radio DJ on Classic FM and Smooth Radio.
Jo Whiley
Jo’s impressive radio career began while she was still at university, when she landed a job with BBC Radio Sussex. A few years later, in 1997, Jo began a weekday lunchtime show on Radio 1 called The Jo Whiley Show, which was later renamed The Lunchtime Social, before being moved to a mid-morning slot. And in 2002, Jo, 58, became the first female presenter of the Radio 1 Chart Show. She joined Radio 2 in 2009 and has remained there since, hosting her own evening show from 2018. Last October, Jo celebrated 30 years in radio, joking, ‘I seem to have been on the radio for a billion years (30 to be precise).’
Carol Vorderman
Former Countdown
