Polly Evans

Evans started broadcasting while studying at the University of Leeds, working early morning shifts on the campus radio station.{{cite web|title=South East Today: Presenters: Polly Evans|date=7 February 2008|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/southeasttoday/content/articles/2007/04/30/polly_evans_feature.shtml|publisher=BBC|accessdate=18 January 2018}} She then went to Cardiff Journalism School at Cardiff University to do a post-graduate diploma and later, travelled to post-war Bosnia to make a film about a new impartial television station for the country.

After working in Japan as an English teacher during a gap year, Evans joined BBC Radio Wales' features department, developing and producing networked programming for BBC Radio 4. She later joined the BBC Wales newsroom as a reporter and newsreader, before moving to BBC Radio Devon in Plymouth a year later. She then transferred to television as a reporter and presenter for Spotlight and The Politics Show in the South West.

Evans joined South East Today before the 2005 general election.{{cite web|title=South East Today on September 3rd 2007 with Geoff Clark and Polly Evans|date=3 September 2007|url=http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/bbc_se_and_ldn/bbc_southeast_news.html|publisher=tv-ark.org.uk|accessdate=31 May 2014|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118082428/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/bbc_se_and_ldn/bbc_southeast_news.html|archivedate=18 January 2016}} In September 2009, she became a main presenter alongside Rob Smith, replacing Geoff Clark and Beverley Thompson.{{cite web|first=Trevor |last=Sturgess|date=1 July 2009|title=Geoff Clark and Beverley Thompson ousted by 'misinterpreted' research|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/geoff-clark-and-beverley-thompso-a96265/|publisher=kentonline.co.uk |accessdate=30 May 2014}} The show was named Best Nations and Regions news programme twice at the national Royal Television Society Awards while Evans and Rob Smith were the anchors. During this time she also worked for the BBC Newschannel and BBC 5 Live as a reporter and newsreader.

In 2017, Evans transferred from presenting to producing South East Today, joining the programme's editorial staff, during which time she oversaw TV news coverage of the General Election in the region.[http://www.surreymirror.co.uk/the-reason-bbc-south-east-news-presenter-polly-evans-has-not-been-seen-on-television-recently/story-30204640-detail/story.html The reason BBC South East news presenter Polly Evans has not been seen on TV recently]{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Surrey Mirror, 15 March 2017{{cite news |last1=Elvin |first1=Sian |title=People want to know why BBC TV star Polly Evans is not on air |url=https://www.kentlive.news/news/celebs-tv/polly-evans-disappeared-bbc-south-493136 |accessdate=8 December 2019 |work=kentlive |date=14 March 2017}} She also worked on attachment as Social Affairs Correspondent.

Evans left the BBC in Autumn 2019. She is now the Head of Communications & Digital for The Access Project, a charity which helps bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds gain access to top Universities.{{cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://www.theaccessproject.org.uk/team |website=The Access Project |accessdate=8 December 2019}} She now oversees UK audio production for tonies, the largest interactive audio platform for kids worldwide.

In May 2023 she appeared on the BBC Radio 4 programme Life Changing and explained that her career change had been brought about by adductor spasmodic dysphonia.{{cite web |title=Life Changing - Speechless |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001lrcq |website=www.bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC Sounds |access-date=10 May 2023}}

Evans is married with two daughters.

Aside from her broadcasting work, she has presented the Learn Direct Achievement Awards, The EDF Energy Awards for Journalism and the FSB’s Brexit debate. She has also been a guest presenter of Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artist competition{{cite web|title=TWIYCA-Competition|year=2014|url=http://www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk/109/TWIYCA-Competition/833|publisher=assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk|accessdate=31 May 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140531095950/http://www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk/109/TWIYCA-Competition/833|archive-date=31 May 2014|url-status=dead}} and a guest judge for the Culture Awards.{{cite web|title=Judges|year=2014 |url=http://www.thecultureawards.org/2014-awards/judges.html |publisher=thecultureawards.org |accessdate=31 May 2014}}

She is a Trustee of the charity Care for the Carers.

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://twitter.com/Polly_Evans Polly Evans twitter account]

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Category:Living people

Category:People associated with the University of Leeds

Category:English television presenters

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)