Sir Trevor McDonald

About

Sir Trevor is a broadcasting institution in himself–the Trinidadian-British newsreader and journalist has had a long and influential career as a news presenter with ITN and is one of the best known faces on British television screens.

Trevor McDonald (Sir Trevor McDonald OBE) started his journalism career working as a print and broadcast journalist in Trinidad during the 1960s. In 1969 McDonald was employed by BBC Radio as a producer, based in London but still broadcasting to the Caribbean. In 1973 he began his long association with Independent Television News, first as a general reporter, later as a sports correspondent, but ultimately concentrating on international politics. In the 1980s he spent some time with Channel 4 News, but returned to ITN in 1989, presenting the early-evening news.

McDonald holds Honorary Degrees from the University of Plymouth and Liverpool John Moores University. In 1993, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s honours list. He received a knighthood in 1999 for his services to journalism. He was awarded with a BAFTA fellowship at the 2011 British Academy Television Awards.

From 1999-2009, McDonald hosted ITV’s flagship current affairs programme Tonight with Trevor McDonald.

In June 2007, McDonald began hosting the new ITV television series News Knight with Sir Trevor McDonald.

He is notable for having been the first black news reader in the UK, and for having won more awards than any other British broadcaster.

In 2010, McDonald conducted a live on-stage interview with Archbishop Desmond Tutu at Fairfield Halls in Croydon at an event entitled An Audience with Desmond Tutu.

McDonald is also Chancellor of London South Bank University. He also has intimate ties with King’s College School in Wimbledon, a London day school, where he is now a governor.

Trevor is also an accomplished writer, being the author of biographies of the cricketers Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd.

McDonald presented his last ITV News bulletin on 15 December 2005. The veteran newsreader stepped down from his role as anchor after more than 30 years at ITN, but said he had no plans to retire completely from television. At the end of the final programme, newsreader Trevor McDonald sign off with the words: ‘That brings to an end my association with the news at 10.30. Thank you for watching.’

One of the most respected figures broadcasting history, Trevor McDonald is in demand as an after dinner speaker and event host.