Sophie Long

Sophie Long (born 1977)^[1] is an English journalist who works for BBC News, mainly appearing as a presenter on the BBC News Channel.

Early and personal life

Long was born in Torquay, and in part raised in Weston-super-Mare when her parents moved there. She attended Broadoak School in Weston, also attended by newsreader Jill Dando. She did her A-levels at Weston College's Sixth Form Centre.^[2]

After graduating from King's College London with a degree in War Studies, she worked as an election monitor in Cambodia. Long returned to the UK, working for Reuters news agency before moving to ITN as a newsroom assistant in London.

Long married her childhood sweetheart and long time fiancé Will Green in Cornwall in June 2010.^[3] However, in November 2012 it was widely reported that she was having an affair with BBC colleague Tim Wilcox.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

Journalism career

After gaining a BBC scholarship, the first bursary endowed in honour of the late Jill Dando,^[9] Long studied for a diploma in broadcast journalism at Falmouth College of Arts. On graduation, she worked at BBC Radio Cornwall and as a reporter for Spotlight,^[10] before joining the BBC's News Training Scheme, working for BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Hereford and Worcester.

Long then became a news presenter for Midlands Today breakfast and lunchtime slots, before returning to Plymouth to become a main presenter on Spotlight.^[11] Long also presented the South West issue of The Politics Show, before moving to be a stand-in presenter and News Correspondent on the BBC News Channel. She soon gave up reporting to cover Anita McVeigh's maternity leave, presenting between 7pm and 10pm on Fridays, and between 7pm and midnight on Saturdays and Sundays alongside Chris Lowe, as well as occasionally filling in during the week. She became the presenter of the weekend on the 4-7pm shift on Saturdays and worked as a general relief presenter, particularly on weekday afternoons alongside Jon Sopel and Julian Worricker respectively. From March 2013, Long presented on Monday and Friday mornings until the slots were axed in favour of the new Victoria Derbyshire programme in April 2015.^[12] Long now appears as a news correspondent across the BBC, as well as regularly presenting the 8pm BBC News Summary.

In May 2010, she travelled with Nick Clegg during the general election campaign, and in March 2011 reported live for the BBC News Channel from Central London during the anti-cuts protest march.^[13]

On 27 July 2011, she provided reports and coverage from the Olympic Park site, which is home to various venues and stadia for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, UK, on the day the UK celebrated the year to go milestone.

In November 2011, Long travelled to the Middle East on a fact finding mission with the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), visiting campaigning groups in Israel and the West Bank, and meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders.^[14]

On 18 March 2013 up to 1 o'clock, Long with newsreader Simon McCoy gave the final BBC News bulletin from BBC Television Centre, with BBC News moving to Broadcasting House in Central London.

References