Trevor McDonald facts for kids

Sir Trevor Lawson McDonald (born George McDonald on 16 August 1939) is a famous Trinidadian-British newsreader and journalist. He is best known for his long career presenting the news for Independent Television News (ITN) in the UK.

Sir Trevor became a very familiar face on British television. He was known for his calm and serious way of delivering the news. He has also hosted many documentaries and current affairs shows.

Sir Trevor McDonald's Career

Early Steps in Journalism

Trevor McDonald was born in San Fernando, Trinidad, which was a British colony at the time. He was born on 16 August 1939. His parents, Josephine and Lawson McDonald, worked hard to support their family. His father was an engineer from Grenada.

Even though his family was poor, his parents made sure he learned good English. They wanted him to speak as clearly as the announcers on the BBC World Service. Trevor was the oldest of four children.

He started his journey in broadcasting at Naparima College's Blue Circle Network. His first professional jobs were as a radio reporter for Radio Trinidad. He also worked as a news presenter and sports journalist for Trinidad and Tobago Television.

In 1969, Trevor moved to London and joined the BBC World Service as a producer. He still broadcast to the Caribbean from there.

Joining ITN and Becoming a News Star

In 1973, Trevor McDonald joined Independent Television News. He became ITN's first black reporter. He wanted to be hired because of his skills, not his race.

He reported on many important events, including conflicts in Northern Ireland. He also worked as a sports reporter from 1978 to 1980. Later, he focused on international politics.

From 1982 to 1987, he was a diplomatic correspondent and newsreader for Channel 4 News. He returned to ITV in 1989. He presented the ITV Evening News and weekend news.

Trevor McDonald conducted the first interview with Nelson Mandela after he was released from prison. He also interviewed Saddam Hussein after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. These interviews showed his skill as a journalist.

Leading News at Ten

On 9 November 1992, Trevor McDonald became the main presenter of News at Ten. This news show changed from having two presenters to just one. He quickly became one of the most recognized faces on British television.

He stayed with ITN even when News at Ten was stopped in 1999. He then presented the new ITV Evening News. News at Ten briefly returned in 2001, and Trevor was back as its presenter.

Hosting Tonight

From 1999 to 2007, Trevor McDonald hosted ITV's main current affairs show, Tonight with Trevor McDonald. This show explored important topics and events. The show was later brought back in 2010 with a different presenter.

Stepping Down and Returning

Trevor McDonald presented his last regular ITV News bulletin on 15 December 2005. He had been an anchor for over 30 years. He said he wasn't fully retiring from television, just stepping back from daily news.

However, on 31 October 2007, ITV announced that he would return. He came out of retirement in early 2008 to present the relaunched News at Ten.

He stepped down from News at Ten again on 30 October 2008. His final bulletin was on 20 November 2008. He continued to work on other shows like Tonight.

Documentaries and Special Reports

Sir Trevor McDonald has presented many popular documentaries for ITV. These shows often explore interesting places and serious topics.

• In 2009, he explored the Caribbean in The Secret Caribbean with Trevor McDonald.
• In 2011, he traveled around the Mediterranean for The Secret Mediterranean with Trevor McDonald.
• In 2012, he journeyed along the Mississippi River for The Mighty Mississippi with Trevor McDonald.
• He also presented Queen Elizabeth II: Her Remarkable Life Through The Decades in 2012.
• In 2013, he visited inmates on death row in Indiana for Inside Death Row. He also presented Women Behind Bars: Life and Death in Indiana.
• He explored crime in The Mafia with Trevor McDonald (2015) and Mafia Women with Trevor McDonald (2017).
• Other documentaries include Las Vegas with Trevor McDonald (2015) and Inside Scotland Yard With Trevor McDonald (2016).
• More recently, he presented And Finally… with Trevor McDonald in 2021.
• In 2021, he co-presented Trevor McDonald & Charlene White: Has George Floyd Changed Britain?
• He presented The Killing of PC Harper: A Wife's Story in March 2022.
• In October 2023, he presented Pride of Britain: A Windrush Special.

Other Work and Appearances

Sir Trevor McDonald has been involved in many other projects. He was the subject of the TV show This Is Your Life in 1990. He also appeared on Desert Island Discs in 1994.

He presented radio series about Caribbean music and Black British football players. He also narrated documentaries about soldiers who helped Britain in the world wars.

From 1996 to 2008, he hosted the National Television Awards. He also presented Undercover Customs, a show about customs investigations. In 2006, he appeared on the quiz show Have I Got News for You.

Sir Trevor was the chancellor of London South Bank University from 1999 to 2012. He also wrote biographies of famous cricketers. He has written columns for magazines and published his autobiography, Fortunate Circumstances, in 1993.

He was parodied by comedian Lenny Henry as Trevor McDoughnut. The real Trevor McDonald even made a surprise appearance on the show once! He also performed live with the band the Who in 1996.

In 1997, he became chairman of the Better English Campaign. This group worked to improve English skills in schools. He also helped launch a campaign to help school leavers with job applications and interviews.

He was appointed deputy president of Surrey County Cricket Club in 2012. He served as the club's president from 2013 to 2014.

In 2021, he narrated an animated advertisement for WaterAid. This ad highlighted global water shortages. He also appeared as a guest presenter on the game show Countdown in 2021 and 2022.

Awards and Recognition

Sir Trevor McDonald has received many awards for his work. He has honorary degrees from several universities.

He was named Newscaster of the Year four times by the Television and Radio Industries Club. In 1998, he received the Royal Television Society (RTS) Gold Medal for his amazing work in television news. The next year, he received the Richard Dimbleby Award from BAFTA.

In 2004, he was named one of the "100 Great Black Britons." This poll was created after a BBC poll didn't include any Black Britons.

He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992. In 1999, he was made a Knight Bachelor for his services to broadcasting and journalism. This means he can be called "Sir Trevor."

He received the National Television Award for Special Recognition in 2003. In 2005, he received the RTS Award for Lifetime Achievement. He was also inducted into the CBU Caribbean Media Hall of Fame. In 2011, he received a BAFTA Fellowship, which is a very high honor.

Personal Life

Sir Trevor McDonald has three children. He was married to his first wife, Beryl, from 1964 to 1985. He then married Josephine in 1986, and they separated in 2020.