Bill Turnbull facts for kids

William Robert Jolyon Turnbull (born January 25, 1956 – died August 31, 2022) was a well-known English TV and radio presenter and journalist. He had a long career in broadcasting that lasted over 40 years. He started his journey at radio stations like Radio Clyde and BBC Radio 4's Today programme. He then presented for BBC News 24 and BBC Radio 5 Live. His most famous role was as one of the main presenters of BBC Breakfast, which he did for fifteen years from 2001 to 2016. Later, he presented the religious series Songs of Praise and the game show Think Tank. He also hosted a show on the radio station Classic FM.

Early Life and Education

Bill Turnbull was born in Guildford, Surrey, England, on January 25, 1956. His father was English with Scottish family roots, and his mother was English. He went to Eton College for his education. Later, he studied at the University of Edinburgh, where he was in charge of the student newspaper. He finished his studies at Cardiff University in 1978.

Broadcasting Career

Bill Turnbull's career began in 1978 at a local Scottish radio station called Radio Clyde. After that, he worked as a freelance journalist in the United States for several years.

Joining the BBC

In 1986, Turnbull joined the BBC as a reporter for the Today programme. In 1988, he became a reporter for Breakfast Time. By 1990, he was a correspondent for BBC News. He reported on many different stories both in the UK and around the world. He visited over 30 countries for his work.

He spent four years as the Washington Correspondent, based in the United States. During this time, he reported on major American news stories. In 1997, Turnbull returned to the UK. He became one of the main presenters on BBC News 24. He also hosted regular shows on BBC Radio 5 Live, including Weekend Breakfast.

BBC Breakfast and Beyond

In 2001, Turnbull joined the BBC Breakfast team as a weekend presenter. He worked with different co-presenters over the years, including Sian Williams and Susanna Reid. In 2008, he became the main weekday presenter for Breakfast. He also sometimes filled in as a presenter for News at Six and News at One.

Bill didn't just present from the studio; he often reported from different locations. After Hurricane Katrina, he went to New Orleans to report for BBC News. He also covered the 7 July 2005 London bombings live from King's Cross railway station. He reported live from Washington, D.C., and New York for the 2008 US presidential election. He was back in Washington for the 2012 US presidential election in 2012.

In 2005, Bill Turnbull was a contestant on the TV show Strictly Come Dancing. He danced with professional partner Karen Hardy. Even with an ankle injury, he stayed in the competition for seven weeks, finishing in sixth place.

In 2013, he joined the presenting team for the BBC's Songs of Praise. In 2015, he started narrating the CBBC sketch comedy series Class Dismissed. He even made a small appearance as himself in one episode.

On September 2, 2015, it was announced that Bill would be leaving Breakfast after fifteen years. His last episode was on February 26, 2016.

After leaving Breakfast, he started presenting the daytime quiz show Think Tank on BBC One in March 2016. In April 2016, he began hosting his own radio show on Classic FM. He also narrated another CBBC comedy series called The Zoo in 2017, which was about Paignton Zoo.

Bill was a guest presenter for three episodes of The One Show in 2016. In March 2018, he appeared with Fiona Phillips in a BBC One show called Holding Back the Years, which gave tips on living well as you get older.

Other TV Appearances

Bill Turnbull appeared on several other TV shows. In 2007, he was on the game show School's Out. He also appeared on the celebrity version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with Sian Williams to raise money for charity. In January 2008, he was on Celebrity Mastermind, where his special subject was beekeeping.

In 2009, he took part in the BBC series Around the World in 80 Days with his Breakfast colleague Louise Minchin. They traveled through Mongolia, Russia, and South Korea, then crossed the Pacific Ocean on a ship to California. In 2011, he and Sian Williams won an episode of the game show Pointless Celebrities. He also appeared on Would I Lie To You? and made a guest appearance as himself in an episode of Doctor Who.

Later, he presented Good Morning Britain for a few episodes in 2020 and 2021. In October 2021, he was a contestant on Richard Osman's House of Games.

Personal Life and Interests

Bill Turnbull married Sarah McCombie in March 1988. They had three children: Henry, Will, and Flora. The family lived in Buckinghamshire before moving to Rainow, Cheshire, in 2012, when BBC Breakfast moved to Salford. Later, they moved to Theberton, Suffolk.

Bill was a big fan of Wycombe Wanderers F.C. football club. He even commentated on their home games for online listeners. His hobbies included beekeeping, looking after chickens, and dancing. He also enjoyed long-distance running and took part in the London Marathon and the Great North Run.

In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate from Buckinghamshire New University. This was to recognize his charity work in the Buckinghamshire area. In May 2010, he published a funny book about his experiences with beekeeping called The Bad Beekeepers Club.

Bill Turnbull passed away at his home in Suffolk on August 31, 2022, at the age of 66. After his death, the commentary area at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park stadium was named after him to honor his memory.