Trevor McDonald facts for kids

Sir Trevor Lawson McDonald (born George McDonald; 16 August 1939) is a famous newsreader and journalist from Trinidad and Britain. He is best known for his long career presenting the news for Independent Television News (ITN).

Trevor McDonald started his career in Trinidad. He worked as a reporter for Radio Trinidad and as a news and sports journalist for Trinidad Television. In 1969, he moved to London and joined BBC Radio as a producer. He still made shows for the Caribbean. In 1973, he began working for ITN as a general reporter. He was also ITN's first black reporter.

In 1992, Trevor McDonald became the main presenter of News at Ten. He quickly became a very well-known face on British television. He also hosted the current affairs show Tonight with Trevor McDonald and made many documentaries for ITV.

In 1999, he was made a knight for his great work in journalism. This means he is called "Sir Trevor McDonald." He also received special honors like the National Television Award for Special Recognition and the BAFTA Fellowship.

Trevor McDonald's Career Journey

Early Steps in Journalism

Trevor McDonald was born on 16 August 1939 in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. His parents were Josephine and Lawson McDonald. Trevor has a mixed background, known as Dougla heritage. His mother was of African descent, and his father was of Indian descent.

In the 1960s, he worked as a journalist in Trinidad. Then, in 1969, he joined BBC Radio in London. He worked as a producer, creating shows that were sent back to the Caribbean. In 1973, he started his long journey with Independent Television News (ITN). He was a general reporter and the first black reporter for ITN.

Later, McDonald became a sports reporter. But he soon focused on international politics. In the 1980s, he worked on Channel 4 News. He returned to ITV in 1989 to present the early-evening news.

Becoming a News Icon

On 9 November 1992, Trevor McDonald became the main presenter of News at Ten. The show changed from having two presenters to just one, because people liked him so much. He became a very famous person on British TV.

When News at Ten was stopped in 1999, McDonald stayed with ITN. He then presented the new ITV Evening News until 2001. News at Ten came back for a short time in 2001, and McDonald returned to present it. After it was stopped again in 2004, he presented ITV News at 10.30.

Hosting Tonight

From 1999 to 2007, Trevor McDonald hosted ITV's main current affairs show. It was called Tonight with Trevor McDonald, named after him. The show was later brought back in 2010 with a new presenter.

Taking a Break

Trevor McDonald presented his last regular ITV News show on 15 December 2005. He decided to step down after more than 30 years at ITN. However, he said he would not completely stop working in television. He wanted a quiet departure, unlike some other famous news anchors.

As a special tribute, the old News at Ten music was played at the end of his last broadcast.

Returning to the News

On 31 October 2007, ITV announced that Trevor McDonald would return. He came out of retirement in early 2008 to present the relaunched News at Ten. He presented it alongside Julie Etchingham.

Another Farewell

On 30 October 2008, it was announced that McDonald would step down from News at Ten again. His last show was on 20 November 2008, after the 2008 US presidential election. He was replaced by Mark Austin. It was reported that he would still present parts of Tonight.

Making Documentaries

Trevor McDonald has presented many interesting documentaries for ITV. In 2009, he traveled to the Caribbean for a three-part series called The Secret Caribbean with Trevor McDonald. Two years later, he explored the Mediterranean for The Secret Mediterranean with Trevor McDonald. In 2012, he traveled along the Mississippi River for The Mighty Mississippi with Trevor McDonald.

In 2012, he presented Queen Elizabeth II: Her Remarkable Life Through The Decades. In 2013, he visited prisons in Indiana for a two-part series called Inside Death Row. He also presented Women Behind Bars: Life and Death in Indiana that same year.

He continued to make documentaries about various topics. In 2015, he explored The Mafia with Trevor McDonald in New York City. Later that year, he presented Las Vegas with Trevor McDonald. In 2016, he looked into Inside Scotland Yard With Trevor McDonald. In 2017, he made Mafia Women with Trevor McDonald.

More recently, in January 2021, McDonald presented And Finally… with Trevor McDonald. In May 2021, he co-presented Trevor McDonald & Charlene White: Has George Floyd Changed Britain? He also presented The Killing of PC Harper: A Wife's Story in March 2022 and Pride of Britain: A Windrush Special in October 2023.

Other Projects and Appearances

Trevor McDonald has been featured on many other shows. He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1990 and Desert Island Discs in 1994. He also presented radio series about Caribbean music and Black British football players.

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

Trevor McDonald was the head of London South Bank University from 1999 to 2012. He is also involved with King's College School in Wimbledon. He has written books about cricketers Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd, and his own life story, Fortunate Circumstances, was published in 1993.

He has appeared in advertisements for companies like Vision Express and McVitie's. In 2007, he hosted a new version of This Is Your Life and a comedy show called News Knight with Sir Trevor McDonald. In 2010, he interviewed Archbishop Desmond Tutu live on stage.

He was also involved with Surrey County Cricket Club, serving as its president from 2013 to 2014. In 2021, he narrated an advertisement for WaterAid about global water shortages. He has also been a guest presenter on the game show Countdown several times.

Awards and Honors

Trevor McDonald has received many awards and honorary degrees. He has honorary degrees from several universities, including the University of Plymouth and the Open University.

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 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). In 2004, he was named one of 100 Great Black Britons in a special poll.

He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992. Then, in 1999, he was made a Knight Bachelor for his services to broadcasting and journalism. He received the National Television Award for Special Recognition in 2003 and the RTS Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2005. In 2011, he received a BAFTA Fellowship, which is a very high honor.

Personal Life

Trevor McDonald has been married twice. He was married to Beryl from 1964 to 1985. He then married Josephine in 1986, and they separated in 2020. He has three children.