Hazel Irvine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hazel Irvine
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Irvine in 2025
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| Born | 24 May 1965 St Andrews, Scotland
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| Alma mater | University of St Andrews |
| Occupation | Sports presenter |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Snooker, Athletics, Golf, 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, 2016 Rio Olympics, 2018 Winter Olympics. |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | William Hyslop Irvine (father) Norma Bryson (mother) |
Hazel Jane Irvine (born May 24, 1965) is a famous Scottish sports presenter. She is well-known for her work on the BBC, covering many big sports events like the Olympics and snooker tournaments. She has been a familiar face in sports broadcasting for many years.
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Early Life and Education
Hazel Irvine was born in St Andrews, Scotland. She has a younger brother named David.
She went to Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh. Later, she studied History of Art at the University of St Andrews. While at university, Hazel was a talented athlete. She competed in golf, netball, and athletics. In her final year, she was the Senior Student of Hamilton Hall.
Broadcasting Career Highlights
Hazel Irvine started her career in broadcasting in 1986. She first worked at Radio Clyde. In 1988, she moved to Scottish Television. There, she started as a continuity announcer, which means she introduced programs. Later, she became a sports reporter and presenter.
Her talent quickly led her to national television. She helped present coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics for ITV. She also reported from the Scotland football team's training camp during the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Joining the BBC
In 1990, Hazel joined the BBC. She presented Sportscene for BBC Scotland. On June 19, 1993, she became the youngest-ever presenter of the BBC's main sports show, Grandstand. For ten years, she also hosted BBC Scotland's coverage of Children in Need, a charity event.
In 1994, Hazel co-hosted Hogmanay Live, a New Year's Eve show. The next year, she introduced coverage of the FIFA Women's World Cup. She also started reporting for Football Focus.
Major Sports Events
Hazel Irvine has presented for the BBC at every Summer Olympics since the Barcelona 1992 Games. She has also covered five Winter Olympics and four FIFA World Cup tournaments.
In December 1996, she became the main presenter of Ski Sunday. Since 2002, she has regularly presented the biggest snooker tournaments. These include the World Snooker Championship, the Masters, and the UK Championship. She also often presents sports news on BBC evening news shows. She has reported from events like Wimbledon and the London Marathon.
For the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Hazel presented Olympic Breakfast. She also helped commentate on the opening and closing ceremonies. She did these same jobs for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Hazel also covered the Winter Olympics in 2014 and 2018. She presented the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and 2018. She also covered the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
She reported on golf for the BBC for 25 years. Her last golf event was the 2017 Masters Tournament in April 2017. In 2019, she presented the 2019 Netball World Cup from Liverpool for the BBC.
In 2024, Hazel was given an MBE award. This award recognized her great work in sports and for charity.
Other Activities
Besides her TV work, Hazel Irvine also helps people learn how to speak to the media. She also works as a speaker for events.
Personal Life
Hazel Irvine married her long-term partner in 2008 in a private ceremony in Scotland. They live in London with their daughter, who was also born in 2008.
