Sally Magnusson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sally Magnusson
MBE FRSE
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Magnusson being granted an honorary degree by The Open University in 2016
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Sally Anne Magnusson
1955 (age 69–70) Glasgow, Scotland
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| Nationality | Scottish, Icelandic |
| Education | Laurel Bank School for Girls University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, writer |
| Spouse(s) | Norman Stone |
| Children | 5, including Jamie Magnus Stone |
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| Relatives | Jon Magnusson (brother) Archie Baird (uncle) |
Sally Magnusson is a well-known Scottish journalist, TV presenter, and writer. She was born in 1955 and is famous for her work on BBC Scotland's news show, Reporting Scotland. She also presents Tracing Your Roots on BBC Radio 4 and used to be a main presenter for the popular religious TV programme Songs of Praise.
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Growing Up in Scotland
Sally Magnusson was born in 1955 in Glasgow, Scotland. Her father, Magnus Magnusson, was a famous broadcaster and writer from Iceland. Her mother, Mamie Baird, was a newspaper journalist. Sally grew up with her four younger brothers and sisters. Sadly, when Sally was young, her brother Siggy passed away at the age of 12.
Her Education Journey
Sally went to Laurel Bank School for Girls in Glasgow. After school, she studied English Language and Literature at the University of Edinburgh. She worked very hard and graduated in 1978 with a top-level degree.
Sally's Career in Media
Sally Magnusson started her career in journalism at The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh in 1979. She then worked for the Sunday Standard in Glasgow, writing news and feature stories. In 1982, she was named Scottish Feature Writer of the Year.
Moving to Television
Soon after, Sally joined BBC Scotland to present a weekly TV show called Current Account. She then moved to London to work on bigger national shows for the BBC. She presented Sixty Minutes and later London Plus.
In 1986, Sally became one of the main presenters for BBC One's Breakfast Time. She helped cover important events like the 1987 general election. Later, she co-presented the show's replacement, Breakfast News.
Awards and Special Reports
Sally has won several awards for her work. In 1996, she received a Scottish BAFTA for her reporting on the Dunblane tragedy. In 1998, she won a Royal Television Society award for her interview with Earl Spencer about his sister, Princess Diana. She also narrated a documentary called Saving Trudy.
As a reporter, Sally covered several general elections and the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. She also reported on the opening of the new Scottish Parliament. She has presented many different TV programmes, from serious shows like Panorama to the popular Songs of Praise. In 1997, Sally returned to Glasgow. She became a main presenter for BBC Scotland's news programme Reporting Scotland, which she still presents today.
Sally's Books
Besides her TV work, Sally Magnusson is also a talented writer. She has written several books, including:
- Life of Pee: The Story of How Urine Got Everywhere
- Books about famous Christians like Scottish runner Eric Liddell and poet Jack Clemo
- A children's book called Horace and the Haggis Hunter, which her husband illustrated.
She has also written novels for adults:
- The Seal Woman's Gift (published in 2018)
- The Ninth Child (published in 2020), a story set in 19th-century Scotland that mixes old stories with history.
Her Family Life
Sally Magnusson is married to Norman Stone, who is a TV director. They have five children together, including the Scottish film director Jamie Magnus Stone. Sally also has two grandchildren. She lives in the village of Torrance, East Dunbartonshire.
Achievements and Recognition
Sally has received special degrees from several universities for her contributions to media. These include:
- Glasgow Caledonian University (2009)
- University of Stirling (2015)
- The Open University (2016)
In 2007, she was recognized by the Institute of Contemporary Scotland for her services to media. In 2023, Sally was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award. This was for her important work helping people with dementia and their caregivers. In 2024, she was also made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
