June Sarpong facts for kids

June Konadu Sarpong (born 31 May 1977) is a well-known British television presenter and executive. She was a regular on the ITV show Loose Women. She also appears on the Sky News programme The Pledge. In 2019, June became the BBC's first Director of Creative Diversity. This role helps make sure different voices and backgrounds are included in TV and radio.

Early Life and Education

June Sarpong was born in Newham, London. Her parents, Thelma and Samuel Sarpong, came from Ghana. She went to school at Connaught School for Girls in Leytonstone. Later, she studied at Sir George Monoux College in Walthamstow.

Television Career

June started her media journey at the radio station Kiss 100 around 1997. She then became a presenter for MTV UK and Ireland, hosting shows like MTV Dance Floor Chart.

In 2001, she appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. For nine years, June was one of the main presenters on Channel 4’s teen show, T4. She even interviewed the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, for a special show called When Tony Met June in 2005.

June also has her own company, Lipgloss Productions. She works on creating new TV shows, including a comedy and a programme about climate change.

Hosting and Guest Appearances

June has hosted many other TV series. These include Your Face or Mine? with Jimmy Carr for E4. She also hosted Dirty Laundry, which was her own idea, and Playing It Straight, a dating show.

She presented the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party and the Party In The Park. June was a regular host for the MOBO Awards for three years. She has also been a guest on popular panel shows like Question Time, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and Have I Got News for You. She appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and reported on youth culture for This Week. In 2006, she hosted ITV2's WAGs Boutique.

In 2007, June appeared in the Extras Special Series Finale with Ricky Gervais. She left her role on T4 in December 2007 after nine years.

June also made a guest appearance in Little Miss Jocelyn in 2008. In 2009, she hosted a Sky1 show called Michael Jackson: The Search for...His Spirit. She explored places connected to Michael Jackson's life.

She worked as an interviewer on Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theory show.

Loose Women and Other Roles

June became a guest panellist on Loose Women in March 2015. She later became a regular panellist on the show. She left Loose Women in December 2016 after making 46 appearances.

In January 2016, June gave an emotional speech on Loose Women about her brother's passing. The show dedicated its first part to him.

Since April 2016, June has been a regular on Sky News The Pledge. She has also been a panellist on two series of Debatable on BBC Two.

June is also an author. She has written books like Diversify: Six Degrees of Integration (2017), The Power of Women (2018), and The Power of Privilege: How white people can challenge racism (2020).

Advocacy Work

June Sarpong is also known for her advocacy. In 2014, she was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter hoping Scotland would stay part of the United Kingdom. In 2015, she joined the "Britain Stronger in Europe" campaign. This group wanted the United Kingdom to remain part of the European Union.

Personal Life

June's older brother was Sam Sarpong, an actor and host of MTV's Yo Momma. He passed away in 2015.

Honours and Awards

June Sarpong has received special honours for her work. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2007. This was for her services to broadcasting and charity. In 2020, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her continued services to broadcasting.