Carolyn Quinn started out in broadcasting “as a hobby”, by getting involved with hospital radio at Charing Cross Hospital. It was an unlikely beginning to a journalism career that has stretched over five decades and seen her hosting some of the nation’s most loved and important radio shows. After taking a degree in French, Carolyn joined the BBC Local Radio reporters’ scheme. She moved to the BBC’s political and parliamentary team in 1989 and became a Political Correspondent on TV and radio in 1994.
In 2004 Carolyn joined the presenting line-up on Radio 4’s Today programme, staying with Today until 2008. Since 2001 she has presented BBC Radio 4’s PM programme regularly as a stand-in while becoming the main presenter of Radio 4’s The Westminster Hour in January 2007, stepping down in March 2023. She has also been part of the presenting team on Radio 4’s overnight programmes . All that means she has had a front-row seat for political events, from Blair to Brexit to Covid and beyond but as a live broadcaster she has also covered a wide range of non-political domestic and foreign affairs topics and has fronted documentaries.
Much respected by her peers, Carolyn was the first woman elected Chair of the Press Gallery in 2011.
In a world of digital news consumption and rolling news, the UK’s radio broadcasters remain a key part of our media environment. Shows like Today and PM continue to set the news agenda while The Westminster Hour provides the sort of analysis that gets behind the political soundbites while engaging the guest panellists in late night grown up conversation, with humour as well as depth. Carolyn has been at the heart of these iconic shows and has shown her skills at chairing and moderating debate as well as drawing out insights from her guests.
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