Which Famous British Newsreader Are You?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Which Famous British Newsreader Are You?
Image: Wikicommons by Chatham House

About This Quiz

While British newsreaders don't make the immense salaries of their counterparts across the pond, a successful one can nonetheless become an institution on a national scale. They receive newspaper columns and book deals and the chance to present documentaries or magazine shows of particular note, such as "Panorama" or "Newsnight." However, getting there requires a great investment of time, energy and talent.

The British do not easily give our trust to public figures and love to make fun of them even when we know they're on our side. That means you can't just be anyone with a microphone and expect to win us over. A good newsreader, noted for their integrity and whose interview style is sufficiently balanced between fairness and pugnacity, will be offered a chance at best. It takes years of bringing us the facts in a way that is reassuring and thoughtful to win over the British public. Once you've done it, of course, you not only have all the opportunities mentioned above, but you also have a chance to become a true national treasure. You have the chance to be someone to whom the nation turns to tell us the truth when tragedy strikes or history takes a sudden turn.

Which of our favourite trusted voices are you most like? Let's find out!

Question 1
Towfiqu Photography/ Moment/ Getty Images
What time of day is the best time to get news?
I don't mind!
Late night
Latter end of primetime
Early evening
Question 2
Tomml/ E+/ Getty Images
Which network is the superior source for news?
Channel Four
ITV
ITN
BBC
Question 3
Image Source/ Image Source/ Getty Images
If you could make one British newspaper cease to exist, which would it be?
"The Sun"
"Daily Mirror"
"Daily Express"
"Daily Mail"

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Question 4
Tom Werner/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
What is your signature fashion statement?
Loud ties
I never change my hairstyle.
Strong moustache game
Choppy bob
Question 5
Nicola Katie/ E+/ Getty Images
If someone who had never seen you were to hear your voice, would they expect you to look the way you do?
Probably
Probably not
Definitely not
Yes, pretty much
Question 6
Robert Daly/ OJO Images/ Getty Images
Would you consider yourself a tough interviewer?
Yes, mostly
The toughest!
Yes, but fair
Yes, but warm and pleasant about it

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Question 7
Aleksander Nakic/ E+/ Getty Images
What do you find a good subject for a documentary?
Genocide
Any under-reported news story
The Caribbean and/or crime
Antiques and crime
Question 8
Wikicommons by Pete Riches
Of all the arguably scurrilous figures ever to be involved in British news media, which one do you find the most scurrilous?
Piers Morgan, naturally
All of them, honsetly
Robert Maxwell was the worst.
Rupert Murdoch, obviously
Question 9
Hill Street Studios/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
Newsreaders often end up with lots of fans. What would you like to motivate yours?
They love how I dress.
They think I'm a bad***.
They trust me.
They see me as a pioneer.

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Question 10
Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/ OJO+/ Getty Images
What is the highest laurel you'd like to win?
I would turn down anything from the Honours list.
I'm going for an OBE someday.
Knighthood
The love of my devoted fans is all I need.
Question 11
Yevgen Romanenko/ Moment/ Getty Images
Did you come from a relatively privileged background?
Yes, my father was a bishop!
Yes, my father was a consultant radiologist.
Not really
Yes, my father was a high-level executive at a major international conglomerate.
Question 12
kupicoo/ E+/ Getty Images
What's the angriest you've ever made an interview subject?
Mine's the opposite: I've once hated a subject so much I considered shooting him!
I've made people walk out then shout about me behind my back.
I've generally been respectful.
I find I catch more flies with honey.

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Question 13
Tashi-Delek/ E+/ Getty Images
Which newsreader do you aspire to emulate?
Jeremy Paxman
Moira Stuart
I just want to be the best I can be.
Michael Buerk
Question 14
simonkr/ E+/ Getty Images
Why might people consider you a trailblazer?
My ties are outrageous.
I am the first Asian person to be in the position I'm in.
I changed the way British people see black people.
I'm the first woman in my job.
Question 15
Tashi-Delek/ E+/ Getty Images
Which show did you always dream of hosting?
I didn't see it that way.
"Panorama"
"News At Ten"
"Question Time"

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Question 16
Tashi-Delek/ E+/ Getty Images
Some British newsreaders try to make it in the U.S., such as Piers Morgan's shortlived stint at CNN. Would you ever try to crack America?
I'd consider it.
I'm just waiting for their call.
No, that's beneath me.
No, the quality of American news media is too low.
Question 17
SEAN GLADWELL/ Moment/ Getty Images
How do you feel about the BBC license fee?
I think it's ridiculous!
It's fine by me.
I feel a bit weird about it.
I'm happy with it as long as the BBC earns its keep.
Question 18
Ariel Skelley/ Moment/ Getty Images
What charitable cause do you care about?
Homelessness
Duchenne
Children's rights
Domestic violence

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Question 19
tomazl/ E+/ Getty Images
In your reporting career, have you ever spent a stint overseas?
Yes, in the USA, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq ...
Yemen, India, South Africa, Afghanistan ...
Yes, Trinidad
No
Question 20
Image Source/ Cultura/ Getty Images
Are you considered one of the elder statesmen of news?
i think I'd have to retire, but I hope so.
One day!
Yes, that's me!
I will be ... so to speak.
Question 21
Grafissimo/ E+/ Getty Images
What job would you definitely turn down?
Spying on supposed left-wingers at the BBC!
Anything that meant leaving my network
News at the wrong time of day
Anything that involved quitting my biggest job right now

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Question 22
SDI Productions/ E+/ Getty Images
What viewer feedback has affected you?
Accusations of bias against the Tories
I made Avengers fans angry.
I've borne a heck of a lot of racism.
I was temporarily sidelined due to sexism.
Question 23
thianchai sitthikongsak/ Moment/ Getty Images
Have you ever been involved in a scandal?
I'm in a May-December marriage.
Only in exposing them!
No, I'm clean as a whistle.
No, but a lot of people think I have been.
Question 24
ridvan_celik/ E+/ Getty Images
Where did you cut your teeth as a reporter?
International reporting for ITN
BBC2 youth or Asian current affairs programming
BBC Radio
"Panorama" and "Crimewatch"

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Question 25
Nes/ E+/ Getty Images
How do you feel about being a war correspondent?
Love it!
No, thanks.
Sure, I guess.
That's actually a hard no for me, for a better reason than you'd think.
Question 26
wundervisuals/ E+/ Getty Images
What is the naughtiest thing you've ever done?
Get arrested at a political protest
I've made powerful people very angry.
When you look like me, you don't have the luxury of ever being naughty.
I was a teenage punk.
Question 27
RiverNorthPhotography/ E+/ Getty Images
Which scandal of the last 100 years do you wish you'd broken?
Panama Papers
Thorpe Affair
Profumo Affair
Watergate

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Question 28
Tom Merton/ OJO Images/ Getty Images
Which interview do you wish you'd given?
Jeremy Paxman and Michael Howard
Martin Bashir and Michael Jackson
Robert Frost and President Nixon
Tim Russert and David Duke
Question 29
Lorado/ E+/ Getty Images
Of what particular skill as a newsreader are you proudest?
I'm unbiased.
I'm tough.
I'm unflappable.
I can hold a viewer's interest when a story is dull but important.
Question 30
Photos by R A Kearton/ Moment/ Getty Images
Where is your spiritual home?
South of England
North of England
Trinidad and Tobago
Singapore

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You Got: