Which Famous British Newsreader Are You?
By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
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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!
START QUIZ
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Towfiqu Photography/ Moment/ Getty Images
What time of day is the best time to get news?
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Tomml/ E+/ Getty Images
Which network is the superior source for news?
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Image Source/ Image Source/ Getty Images
If you could make one British newspaper cease to exist, which would it be?
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Tom Werner/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
What is your signature fashion statement?
I never change my hairstyle.
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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?
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Robert Daly/ OJO Images/ Getty Images
Would you consider yourself a tough interviewer?
Yes, but warm and pleasant about it
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Aleksander Nakic/ E+/ Getty Images
What do you find a good subject for a documentary?
Any under-reported news story
The Caribbean and/or crime
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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?
Robert Maxwell was the worst.
Rupert Murdoch, obviously
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Newsreaders often end up with lots of fans. What would you like to motivate yours?
They see me as a pioneer.
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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.
The love of my devoted fans is all I need.
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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.
Yes, my father was a high-level executive at a major international conglomerate.
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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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Tashi-Delek/ E+/ Getty Images
Which newsreader do you aspire to emulate?
I just want to be the best I can be.
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simonkr/ E+/ Getty Images
Why might people consider you a trailblazer?
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.
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Tashi-Delek/ E+/ Getty Images
Which show did you always dream of hosting?
I didn't see it that way.
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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'm just waiting for their call.
No, the quality of American news media is too low.
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SEAN GLADWELL/ Moment/ Getty Images
How do you feel about the BBC license fee?
I feel a bit weird about it.
I'm happy with it as long as the BBC earns its keep.
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Ariel Skelley/ Moment/ Getty Images
What charitable cause do you care about?
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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 ...
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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.
I will be ... so to speak.
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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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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.
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thianchai sitthikongsak/ Moment/ Getty Images
Have you ever been involved in a scandal?
I'm in a May-December marriage.
No, I'm clean as a whistle.
No, but a lot of people think I have been.
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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
"Panorama" and "Crimewatch"
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Nes/ E+/ Getty Images
How do you feel about being a war correspondent?
That's actually a hard no for me, for a better reason than you'd think.
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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.
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RiverNorthPhotography/ E+/ Getty Images
Which scandal of the last 100 years do you wish you'd broken?
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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
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Lorado/ E+/ Getty Images
Of what particular skill as a newsreader are you proudest?
I can hold a viewer's interest when a story is dull but important.
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Photos by R A Kearton/ Moment/ Getty Images
Where is your spiritual home?
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