Jackie Bird | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jacqueline Macpherson (1962-07-31)31 July 1962 (age 62) Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist and broadcaster |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children |
|
Jacqueline WeirMBE (néeMacpherson, formerlyBird; born 31 July 1962[1]) is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster, best known as a former anchor of theBBC Scotland's national news programmeReporting Scotland until April 2019. Since 2022, she has been serving as the president of theNational Trust for Scotland.[2]
Jacqueline Macpherson was born on 31 July 1962 inBellshill,North Lanarkshire, the daughter of Linda and Ronnie Macpherson.[3] She attendedEarnock High School inHamilton.[4]
Bird was 17 when she started work for DC Thomson in Dundee, working on teenage magazines, and eventually became the pop editor atJackie magazine.[5][6][7] Subsequently, she worked as a broadcast journalist onRadio Clyde's news team and then as a food critic for theGlasgow Evening Times.[8] After working as a reporter forThe Sun newspaper, Bird joinedTelevision South inMaidstone as a reporter and presenter for the South East edition of regional news programmeCoast to Coast.[9]
Bird left TVS to join BBC Scotland, making her debut as a main presenter ofReporting Scotland on Monday 16 October 1989. She has also been a main presenter of key event programming for BBC Scotland, includingHogmanay Live and the ScottishChildren in Need opt-outs.
Bird is also anewspaper columnist and has written and produced comedy seriesThe Lewis Lectures andHaving it All forBBC Radio Scotland.
On 13 June 2012, she was awarded the honorary degree ofDoctor of Letters (D Litt) in a graduation ceremony at theUniversity of Glasgow.[10]
In October 2014, Bird celebrated 25 years of working onReporting Scotland, as the programme's longest-serving presenter.[11]
On 11 April 2019, BBC Scotland announced Bird had leftReporting Scotland after nearly 30 years as a main presenter to concentrate on other projects. Bird presented her final programme the previous evening, without announcing her departure.[12]
Bird has also toured withEcho & the Bunnymen and worked with Paul Weller.[13]
In November 2016, she appeared as herself in the episode, "Down and Out" in series 7 of Scottish sitcomStill Game.[14] In 2018, Bird made a briefcameo appearance in thezombie Christmas musical filmAnna and the Apocalypse.
In December 2024, she was awardedMost Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to broadcasting and charity.
Bird metBob Bird, anewspaper editor, atThe Sun inGlasgow. They married and moved toLondon, where they had their two children. In 2006, the couple divorced and the following year she remarried.[15][16][17] She lives in the conservation village ofCarmunnock.[18]
In 2012, Bird had sections of her small and large intestine removed after suffering a rare bowel condition.[19]
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