Sophie Long

Long was born in Torquay, and in part raised in Weston-super-Mare when her parents moved there. She attended Broadoak School in Weston. She did her A-levels at Weston College's Sixth Form Centre.[https://www.weston.ac.uk/content/former-weston-college-student-returns-give-inspiring-account-life-global-bbc-journalist Weston College visit]

After graduating from King's College London with a degree in War Studies, she worked as an election monitor in Cambodia. Long returned to the UK, working for Reuters news agency before moving to ITN as a newsroom assistant in London.

After gaining a BBC scholarship, the first bursary endowed in honour of the late Jill Dando,{{cite web|url=http://media.www.falmouthnavigator.com/media/storage/paper194/news/2001/03/05/StudentLife/Fca-Bursary.Winners-52419.shtml|title=FCA Bursary Winners|publisher=Falmouth Navigator|author=Sonia McDuff|date=3 May 2001|accessdate=21 January 2008|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402222809/http://media.www.falmouthnavigator.com/media/storage/paper194/news/2001/03/05/StudentLife/Fca-Bursary.Winners-52419.shtml|url-status=dead}} Long studied for a diploma in broadcast journalism at Falmouth College of Arts. On gaining her qualifications, she worked at BBC Radio Cornwall and as a reporter for Spotlight,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/spotlight/content/articles/2007/01/11/sophie_long_feature.shtml|title=Sophie Long - Biography |work=Spotlight|publisher=BBC South West|accessdate=21 January 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823150938/http://www.bbc.co.uk/spotlight/content/articles/2007/01/11/sophie_long_feature.shtml|archivedate=23 August 2007 }} before joining the BBC's News Training Scheme, working for BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Hereford and Worcester.

Long then became a news presenter for Midlands Today breakfast and lunchtime slots, before returning to Plymouth to become a main presenter on Spotlight.{{cite web|url=http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/bbc_southwest/news.html|title=BBC Spotlight Late News Bulletin|date=2 May 2006|access-date=21 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304033935/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/bbc_southwest/news.html|archive-date=4 March 2012}} Long also presented the South West issue of The Politics Show, before moving to be a stand-in presenter and News Correspondent on the BBC News Channel. She soon gave up reporting to cover Annita McVeigh's maternity leave, presenting between 7 pm and 10 pm on Fridays, and between 7 pm and midnight on Saturdays and Sundays alongside Chris Lowe, as well as occasionally filling in during the week. She became the presenter of the weekend on the 4-7 pm shift on Saturdays and worked as a general relief presenter, particularly on weekday afternoons alongside Jon Sopel and Julian Worricker respectively. From March 2013, Long presented on Monday and Friday mornings until the slots were axed in favour of the new Victoria Derbyshire programme in April 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/tv-show-for-victoria-derbyshire|title=New digital-first TV show for Victoria Derbyshire|date= 19 January 2015|accessdate=12 February 2016}} Long now appears as a news correspondent across the BBC, as well as regularly presenting the 8 pm BBC News Summary.

In May 2010, she travelled with Nick Clegg during the general election campaign, and in March 2011 reported live for the BBC News Channel from Central London during the anti-cuts protest march.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12864353|title=Anti-cuts march: Tens of thousands at London protest|date=27 March 2011|accessdate=20 January 2012|publisher=BBC News}}

On 27 July 2011, she provided reports and coverage from the Olympic Park site, which is home to various venues and stadia for the London 2012 Summer Olympics on the day the UK celebrated the year to go milestone.

In November 2011, Long travelled to the Middle East on a fact finding mission with the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), visiting campaigning groups in Israel and the West Bank, and meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders.{{cite web|url=http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/09/16/bbc-anchor-went-on-a-bespoke-delegation-with-bicom/|title=BBC anchor on 'bespoke delegation' with BICOM|publisher=Liberal Conspiracy|accessdate=19 December 2011}}

Shortly before 1 pm on 18 March 2013, Long and co-presenter Simon McCoy read the final BBC News bulletin from BBC Television Centre, with BBC News moving to Broadcasting House in the West End of London for the BBC News at One.

After stints covering the Far East and as LA Correspondent,{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/bbcsophie?lang=en|title=Sophie Long|accessdate=23 March 2019}} Sophie has now returned to England as a BBC News correspondent.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51n9k1jq1do|title=Nightmares of mum glassed in face by stranger|publisher=BBC News|date=23 April 2024|accessdate=21 August 2024}}

Sophie Long married Will Green in June 2010 in Cornwall after dating for many years.{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Tim|title=Olivia Inge offers advice on how to be a model|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/7818376/Olivia-Inge-offers-advice-on-how-to-be-a-model.html|accessdate=24 April 2019|date=11 June 2010}} The marriage ended two years later.{{cite news|title=Husband of newsreader 'devastated' after she dumps him for co-presenter|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9704837/Husband-of-newsreader-devastated-after-she-dumps-him-for-co-presenter.html|accessdate=24 April 2019|date=27 November 2012}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|5439453}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Long, Sophie}}

Category:1976 births

Category:Alumni of Falmouth University

Category:Alumni of King's College London

Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists

Category:English journalists

Category:Living people

Category:Mass media people from Torquay

Category:People from Weston-super-Mare