Kirsty Young

Kirsty Young has presented the long-running BBC Radio 4 programme, Desert Island Discs, since 2006. In her role she has interviewed a varied selection of guests including Yoko Ono and Ricky Gervais.

Kirsty's journalistic career began in 1989, news reading and presenting for BBC Radio Scotland. She moved to Scottish Television where she was the presenter of the channel's midday and evening news programmes. At ITN she presented ITV's News at Ten, ITV Evening News and Lunchtime News. She was the sole-anchor for the live coverage of 9/11 for five hours for ITV.

Perhaps best known for being one of the country's top broadcasters, Kirsty Young was the launch presenter for Five's groundbreaking Five News in 1997, fronting the show every weekday evening. For many years, Kirsty remained Five's main news anchor, as well as presenter of news specials and documentaries including HRH Zara Phillips and King Constantine of Greece, Are Your Kids on Drugs?, The MMR Debate, The Annual Science Museum/FIVE Science Debate, and The Police Bravery Awards. She also hosted the Big Ideas Philosophy Launch with Professor Germaine Greer.

During her time at Five she received the prestigious Sir James Carreras Award for Outstanding New Talent in 1997, at the 46th Variety Club Showbusiness Awards, and Newscaster of the Year at the TRIC (Television & Radio Industries Club) Awards.

In January 2008, Kirsty became host of one of the BBC1's flagship programmes, Crimewatch, which she presented until 2015 when the format changed. She also regularly hosts BBC2's Have I Got News For You and has presented a documentary series, The British Family, about the changing nature of family life in the post-war era.

Kirsty Young has hosted many awards including The Evening Standard Awards, and The 4th Which? Annual Awards. Other corporate clients include Thinkbox and Thomson Reuters Extel Surveys.

Kirsty was born in Glasgow and brought up in Stirling. She is married and has two daughters.