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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| Born |
Sally Anne Magnusson
11 October 1955 Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland
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| Nationality | Scottish, Icelandic |
| Education | Laurel Bank School for Girls University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, writer |
| Spouse(s) |
Norman Stone
(m. 1984) |
| Children | 5, including Jamie Magnus Stone |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Jon Magnusson (brother) Archie Baird (uncle) |
Sally Magnusson (born 11 October 1955) is a well-known Scottish journalist, TV presenter, and writer. She has worked for the BBC for many years. Sally recently presented the news show Reporting Scotland on BBC Scotland. She also presents Tracing Your Roots on BBC Radio 4. Many people know her from the long-running TV programme Songs of Praise.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Sally Magnusson was born in 1955 in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her father, Magnus Magnusson, was a famous broadcaster and writer from Iceland. Her mother, Mamie Baird, was a newspaper journalist. Sally's uncle, Archie Baird, was a Scottish footballer.
Sally grew up in Glasgow and later in Rutherglen with her four younger brothers and sisters. The family then moved to a rural area north of Glasgow. When Sally was a teenager, her brother Siggy sadly passed away at age 12.
Education and Learning
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 top marks.
Sally's Career in Media
Sally Magnusson started her career in journalism in 1979. She worked for The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh. Later, she joined the Sunday Standard in Glasgow. In 1982, she was named Scottish Feature Writer of the Year.
Early TV Work
Sally then moved to BBC Scotland to present a weekly TV show called Current Account. She later moved to London to work for national BBC television. She presented shows like Sixty Minutes and BBC London Plus.
National News Presenter
In 1986, Sally became one of the main presenters for BBC One's Breakfast Time. She was part of the team that covered the 1987 general election results. From 1989, she co-presented the show's replacement, Breakfast News.
Awards and Special Reports
Sally has won several awards for her work. In 1996, she won a Scottish BAFTA for her commentary on a BBC programme about the Dunblane tragedy. In 1998, she received a Royal Television Society award. This was for her special interview with Earl Spencer about his sister, Princess Diana.
She also reported on important events like general elections and royal funerals. Sally has presented many different TV programmes. These include Panorama and Songs of Praise.
Reporting Scotland
In 1997, Sally returned to Glasgow. She became a main presenter for BBC Scotland's news programme Reporting Scotland. She presented the Thursday and Friday editions of the show. Sally left Reporting Scotland in April 2025, after 27 years.
Books by Sally Magnusson
Sally Magnusson is also a talented writer. She has written several books for adults and children.
- She wrote a children's book called Horace and the Haggis Hunter. Her husband, Norman Stone, drew the pictures for this book.
- Her first novel for adults, The Seal Woman's Gift, was published in 2018.
- Her second novel, The Ninth Child, came out in 2020. This story is set in Scotland in the 1800s and includes old Scottish tales.
Personal Life
Sally Magnusson married Norman Stone, a TV director, in 1984. They have five children together. Their son, Jamie Magnus Stone, is a film director. Sally lives in the village of Torrance, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
Honours and Awards
Sally has received special recognition for her contributions. Several universities have given her honorary degrees. These include Glasgow Caledonian University in 2009 and The Open University in 2016.
In 2023, Sally was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for her work helping people with dementia and their carers. In 2024, she was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
