Kirsty Young facts for kids

Kirsty Jackson Young (born 23 November 1968) is a well-known Scottish television and radio presenter.

From 2006 to 2018, she was the main host of the popular BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs. She also presented Crimewatch on BBC One from 2008 to 2015.

Early Life and Education

Kirsty Young was born in East Kilbride, Scotland. She went to Cambusbarron Primary School and Stirling High School. In June 2008, she returned to her old high school to officially open its new building.

When she was a teenager, Kirsty faced a health challenge, which she bravely overcame. She decided not to go to university. Instead, she started her career in media as a "runner," helping out behind the scenes. Then she became a researcher, learning how to find information for TV and radio shows.

A Career in Broadcasting

Kirsty Young's journey in broadcasting began in 1989. She became a voice on BBC Radio Scotland, introducing programmes.

Early TV Roles

In 1992, Kirsty moved to Scottish Television. She became a presenter for Scotland Today, a news programme. This led to her own chat show called Kirsty. In 1996, she left Scotland Today. She then worked as a guest presenter for The Time, The Place and appeared on the Holiday programme. She also co-hosted a show called The Street on BBC Two, which helped people with consumer advice.

Joining Channel 5 News

In March 1997, Kirsty joined the news team at the new TV channel, Channel 5. She became the main presenter for their news programme, Channel 5 News.

In 1999, Kirsty took part in the first Celebrity Stars in their Eyes. This was a fun show where celebrities impersonate famous singers. Kirsty won by pretending to be Peggy Lee and singing "Fever."

After this, Kirsty left Channel 5 for a short time to join ITV in 2000. She briefly hosted a quiz show called The People Versus. In 2001, she became a co-presenter for the ITV Evening News. Later that year, after having her first child, she decided to return to Channel 5 News in January 2002.

Guest Appearances and New Roles

Kirsty Young has also been a guest on other popular shows. In November 2003, she presented an episode of Have I Got News for You, a funny news quiz show. She has appeared on the show many times since. In 2004, she was on Room 101. On this show, guests talk about things they dislike and want to get rid of.

Hosting Desert Island Discs

In June 2006, it was announced that Kirsty Young would be the new presenter of Desert Island Discs. This is a very famous BBC Radio 4 programme where guests imagine they are stranded on a desert island and choose eight pieces of music, a book, and a luxury item to take with them. Kirsty started hosting the show on 1 October 2006, taking over from Sue Lawley.

She returned to Five News briefly in September 2006. However, in 2007, Kirsty announced she would be leaving Channel 5 News for good. She had been the main anchor for ten years since the channel first launched. Her last show was on 29 August 2007.

Presenting Crimewatch

A month after leaving Channel 5, the BBC announced that Kirsty Young would become the presenter of Crimewatch. This show helps the police solve crimes by asking the public for information. She presented Crimewatch from January 2008 until December 2015.

Other BBC Series

Kirsty also presented other interesting BBC TV series. In 2010, she hosted The British Family, a four-part series. In 2011, she presented The British at Work, which explored the history of work in Britain.

Stepping Down from Desert Island Discs

On 31 August 2018, it was announced that Kirsty would take a break from Desert Island Discs. She needed treatment for a health condition called fibromyalgia. Another presenter, Lauren Laverne, filled in for her.

In July 2019, Kirsty announced that she would not be returning as the host of Desert Island Discs. She explained that her time away due to health issues made her think about what she wanted to do next. She decided it was time for new challenges. The BBC praised her as a "wonderful host." Lauren Laverne continued to host the show.

Recent Appearances

On 2 June 2022, Kirsty Young presented Platinum Beacons: Lighting up the Jubilee for BBC One. This was live coverage of beacons being lit across the UK to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne.

She also played a key role in the BBC's television coverage of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September 2022. She was praised for her closing speech at the end of the broadcast.

Since 2023, Kirsty has presented a new show on BBC Radio 4 called Young Again. In this programme, she interviews famous guests and asks them what advice they would give to their younger selves.

Personal Life

Kirsty Young married businessman Nick Jones in September 1999. Nick Jones is the founder of the Soho House club. Kirsty and Nick have two daughters together. She also has a stepdaughter and a stepson from Nick's first marriage. The family has lived in Bampton, Oxfordshire, since 2011.

Kirsty and her husband bought Inchconnachan, an island in Loch Lomond, Scotland. They planned to build holiday homes there. This island is home to a group of wild wallabies that have lived there for 80 years. Their plans for the island caused some discussion among people who care about nature, as the island is a special area for conservation.

Health

On Christmas Day 2022, Kirsty Young was the guest interviewee on Desert Island Discs, the show she used to host. She talked about her health conditions, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, which caused her to step down from the show in 2018.

In an interview in August 2024, Kirsty spoke about living with ongoing pain. She shared that it can be challenging and make her feel "hollowed out." She supports ways for people to manage their own chronic pain.

Important Roles

In 2016, Kirsty Young was appointed president of UNICEF UK. UNICEF is a global organization that works to help children around the world. She was succeeded in this role in 2020 by actress Olivia Colman.

In October 2019, she was appointed as a director of Sussex Royal, a foundation started by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. She served in this role until the foundation was dissolved in July 2020.