Kirsty Wark: Difference between revisions
Philip Cross (talk | contribs) copyedit |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
Since 1993 she has presented ''Newsnight''. TV and radio programme ''[[Dead Ringers (comedy)|Dead Ringers]]'' often parodies her rather brusque presenting style, comedienne [[Jan Ravens]] portraying her introducing ''Newsnight'' with lyrics from songs, such as, "He was a skater boy, she said see you later boy, he wasn't good enough for her. More on that story later." |
Since 1993 she has presented ''Newsnight''. TV and radio programme ''[[Dead Ringers (comedy)|Dead Ringers]]'' often parodies her rather brusque presenting style, comedienne [[Jan Ravens]] portraying her introducing ''Newsnight'' with lyrics from songs, such as, "He was a skater boy, she said see you later boy, he wasn't good enough for her. More on that story later." |
||
==Controversy== |
|||
| ⚫ | [[Donald Dewar]], former [[First Minister of Scotland|Scottish First Minister]], a close friend, appointed her to the [[Scottish Parliament Building|Scottish Parliament]] Design Selection Panel, which chose |
||
She is married to the television producer [[Alan Clements]]. Together they founded the TV production company ''Wark-Clements'' in [[1990]], which in May [[2004]] was merged with the [[Muriel Gray]]'s ''Ideal World'' to form ''IWC Media''. In December [[2005]], it was announced that IWC Media has been bought out by [[RDF Media]], with both Wark and Gray severing connections with the company |
|||
===Scottsh Parliament building=== |
|||
| ⚫ | In January 2005, she became embroiled in a controversy that followed an invitation to the family of Scottish First Minister and Labour MSP [[Jack McConnell]] to stay at Wark's [[Majorca]]n holiday home over the New Year period. McConnell, a long-time friend of Wark and husband Clements, was cleared of any improprieties when the Scottish Parliament standards committee deemed he received no financial benefits from the holidays. |
||
| ⚫ | [[Donald Dewar]], former [[First Minister of Scotland|Scottish First Minister]], a close friend, appointed her to the [[Scottish Parliament Building|Scottish Parliament]] Design Selection Panel, which chose [[Enric Miralles]] design for the new parliament. When quizzed at the [[Fraser Inquiry]], set up to investigate the rising costs of the building, she said that "there was no way that we were making a decision on economically the most advantageous tender; you would have ended up with a shed . . . it was [about] getting a building which was the most exciting, innovative building . . ." [http://www.holyroodinquiry.org/transcripts_documents/26-11-2003-am/transcript26-11-2003-am.htm] In 2003, ''Wark-Clements'' produced a film on the building, with critics accusing Wark of a conflict of interest. |
||
===Jack Connell in Majorca=== |
|||
Wark's editor on ''Newsnight'' offered his support, stating, "Many people in the media have friends who have gone on to hold office. The important issue is your ability to ask tough questions and that is not a problem with Kirsty Wark or anybody else on the programme." [http://www.sundayherald.com/47024] |
|||
| ⚫ | In January [[2005]], she became embroiled in a controversy that followed an invitation to the family of Scottish First Minister and Labour MSP [[Jack McConnell]] to stay at Wark's [[Majorca]]n holiday home over the New Year period. McConnell, a long-time friend of Wark and husband Clements, was cleared of any improprieties when the Scottish Parliament standards committee deemed he received no financial benefits from the holidays. Wark's editor on ''Newsnight'' offered his support, stating, "Many people in the media have friends who have gone on to hold office. The important issue is your ability to ask tough questions and that is not a problem with Kirsty Wark or anybody else on the programme." [http://www.sundayherald.com/47024] |
||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
Revision as of 11:46, 27 June 2006
Kirsty Anne Wark (born 3 February, 1955, in Dumfries, Scotland) is a Scottish journalist and television presenter best known for fronting the BBC's current affairs programme Newsnight.
She is married to the television producer Alan Clements. Together they founded the TV production company Wark-Clements in 1990, which in May 2004 was merged with the Muriel Gray's Ideal World to form IWC Media. In December 2005, it was announced that IWC Media has been bought out by RDF Media, with both Wark and Gray severing connections with the company.
Wark joined the BBC in 1976 as a researcher for BBC Radio Scotland, and, in 1982 moved to television, eventually becoming a presenter, including presenting Breakfast Time. In 1990, Wark demonstrated her shrewd and formidable line of questioning in a memorable interview of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Wark was a presenter on BBC 2 arts programme The Late Show.
Since 1993 she has presented Newsnight. TV and radio programme Dead Ringers often parodies her rather brusque presenting style, comedienne Jan Ravens portraying her introducing Newsnight with lyrics from songs, such as, "He was a skater boy, she said see you later boy, he wasn't good enough for her. More on that story later."
Controversy
She is married to the television producer Alan Clements. Together they founded the TV production company Wark-Clements in 1990, which in May 2004 was merged with the Muriel Gray's Ideal World to form IWC Media. In December 2005, it was announced that IWC Media has been bought out by RDF Media, with both Wark and Gray severing connections with the company
Scottsh Parliament building
Donald Dewar, former Scottish First Minister, a close friend, appointed her to the Scottish Parliament Design Selection Panel, which chose Enric Miralles design for the new parliament. When quizzed at the Fraser Inquiry, set up to investigate the rising costs of the building, she said that "there was no way that we were making a decision on economically the most advantageous tender; you would have ended up with a shed . . . it was [about] getting a building which was the most exciting, innovative building . . ." [1] In 2003, Wark-Clements produced a film on the building, with critics accusing Wark of a conflict of interest.
Jack Connell in Majorca
In January 2005, she became embroiled in a controversy that followed an invitation to the family of Scottish First Minister and Labour MSP Jack McConnell to stay at Wark's Majorcan holiday home over the New Year period. McConnell, a long-time friend of Wark and husband Clements, was cleared of any improprieties when the Scottish Parliament standards committee deemed he received no financial benefits from the holidays. Wark's editor on Newsnight offered his support, stating, "Many people in the media have friends who have gone on to hold office. The important issue is your ability to ask tough questions and that is not a problem with Kirsty Wark or anybody else on the programme." [2]