Steph McGovern

McGovern was born in 1982 in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, but grew up in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire.{{Cite news |first=David |last=Collins |title=Steph McGovern goes from Packed Lunch to breakfast club to help pupils |work=Sunday Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/christmas-appeal-steph-mcgovern-goes-from-packed-lunch-to-breakfast-club-to-help-pupils-6ngrtjkdm |date=8 January 2023 |access-date=2023-05-07 |issn=0140-0460}} Her father is Irish{{Cite web |title= |url=https://x.com/stephlunch/status/551853747543236610?s=46&t=fHvncVy4KqmaJFSOgyhlKg}} and is a professional artist.{{Cite web |date=18 February 2022 |title=Steph McGovern makes rare family comment as she poses with her 'brilliant' dad |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/20220218133504/steph-mcgovern-rare-family-comment-poses-dad/ |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=HELLO! |language=en}} She is an only child.{{Cite news |last=Gannon |first=Louise |date=2020-04-04 |title=Steph McGovern on presenting her new show from her front room: 'The world is in meltdown, but we're in this together' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/steph-mcgovern-presenting-new-show-front-room-world-meltdown/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} In 1998, at the start of her sixth form studies, she won an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship for her potential to be a future leader in the engineering industry.{{cite web |title=Welcome |url=https://www.youngeng.org/ |website=Young Engineers - The National Network of Science, Engineering and Technology Clubs |access-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981212034253/https://www.youngeng.org/ |archive-date=12 December 1998 |url-status=dead}} From 1998 to 2000, at Macmillan Academy, in the sixth form, she studied Maths, Physics, Design Technology and Business Studies.{{cite web |title=Destinations - Stephanie McGovern, Presenter for BBC Breakfast News |url=http://www.macmillan-academy.org.uk/post16/former/steph.php |website=Post 16 |publisher=Macmillan Academy |access-date=4 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061309/http://www.macmillan-academy.org.uk/post16/former/steph.php |archive-date=23 October 2013 |quote=Steph was a Post 16 student from 1998-2000. She studied A Level Maths, Physics, Design Technology and Business Studies. In Post 16, she showed a keen interest in journalism and often presented the academy news, she is now a lead presenter and journalist on the BBC Breakfast News. |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=Steph McGovern |url=http://www.post16.co.uk/nav/about/alumni/steph.php |website=Alumni |publisher=Macmillan Academy Post 16 |access-date=4 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815171719/http://www.post16.co.uk/nav/about/alumni/steph.php |archive-date=15 August 2020}}

At the age of 19, she was awarded the Young Engineers Clubs' "Young Engineer for Britain",{{cite web |title=Winners - Young Engineers |url=http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/competitions/winners_-_young_engineers.cfm |website=The Awards Ceremony |publisher=The Big Bang Fair |access-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312053433/http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/competitions/winners_-_young_engineers.cfm |archive-date=12 March 2009}}{{cite news |title=Sixth-form engineers win royal approval |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sixth-form+engineers+win+royal+approval-a0323931229 |access-date=5 December 2021 |work=South Wales Echo |date=28 March 2013 |location=Cardiff, Wales |via=Free Online Library |quote= ...Young Engineer for Britain Award for Innovation... at the Young Scientist and Engineers Fair 2013 in London}}{{cite web |title=UTC Reading student wins Young Engineer for Britain award |url=https://www.utcreading.co.uk/news/?pid=18&nid=2&storyid=178 |website=UTC Reading |access-date=5 December 2021 |quote=...Adam joined the YEB Mentoring Programme...mentored by...National Physical Laboratory in London...Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers...British Library...Young Engineers. ...at the Big Bang Fair at the NEC in Birmingham...At the end of the competition, Adam was presented with the Young Engineers Award for Craftsmanship.}}{{cite web |title=COMPETITIONS: Young Engineer for Britain |url=http://www.youngeng.org/index.asp?page=66 |website=Young Engineers |access-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003225102/http://www.youngeng.org/index.asp?page=66 |archive-date=3 October 2006 |url-status=dead}}{{cite journal |last1=Clarke |first1=J. C. |last2=Clothier |first2=P. R. |title=Young Engineer for Britain |journal=Studies in Design Education Craft & Technology |date=September 2009 |volume=14 |issue=2 |url=https://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/SDEC/article/view/1041 |access-date=4 December 2021 |issn= |quote=The Young Engineer for Britain contest attracted the attention of schools throughout Britain and in this article we present accounts by teachers and students of two of the successful schools, The Robert Clack School at Dagenham and the Westwood School in the London Borough of Bexley. |archive-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205003721/https://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/SDEC/article/view/1041 |url-status=dead }}Emily Cummins#Awards and Recognitions and during a gap year Year in Industry before a then-planned mechanical engineering degree at Imperial College, McGovern was a junior member of Black+Decker's Six Sigma team in Spennymoor, saving Black+Decker £150,000 a year by improving production techniques used for the Leaf Hog (Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher) later receiving EEF/Year in Industry Award{{cite news |title=Top award for teen scientist |url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7311373.top-award-for-teen-scientist/ |access-date=4 December 2021 |work=Gazette and Herald |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |location=High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire |language=en |quote=HELPING...scientist Philip Jales a top industry award from the Engineering Employers' Federation...spent the past year gaining work experience at Dstl Porton Down in Wiltshire as part of the Year in Industry scheme. The scheme gives young people a taste of the engineering and manufacturing industry in a gap year between A levels and university.... regional Year in Industry Awards held at the EEF (Western) headquarters in Bristol. He scooped the EEF Contribution to the Business Award...}}{{cite web |title=Industry awards recognise students' contribution |url=https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/node/491788 |website=Cambridge Network |publisher=Cambridge Network Limited |access-date=4 December 2021 |date=16 June 2006 |quote=The EEF/Year in Industry Awards will be hosted again at Microsoft Cambridge Research on 21st June 2006. |archive-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205003730/https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/node/491788 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Great expectations |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6076600.great-expectations/ |website=Lancashire Telegraph |date=30 June 2000 |access-date=5 December 2021 |language=en |quote=TWO local schools exceeded all expectations when three of their bright young inventors were chosen to compete for the coveted title of Young Engineer for Britain 2000.}} for Contribution to the Business.{{cite web|url=http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/gap-year-pioneers-make-their-mark/271924.article|title=Gap-year pioneers make their mark|website=The Engineer (UK magazine)|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102453/http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/gap-year-pioneers-make-their-mark/271924.article|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=LeafHog Blower/Vac/Mulcher |url=https://www.blackanddecker.com/products/lawn-and-garden/lawn/leaf-blowers-and-sweepers/high-performance-leafhog-blowervacmulcher/lh4500 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022230628/http://www.blackanddecker.com/products/lawn-and-garden/lawn/leaf-blowers-and-sweepers/high-performance-leafhog-blowervacmulcher/lh4500 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 October 2015 |website=Black+Decker |access-date=4 December 2021 |language=en-us }}

She attended University College London, where, in 2005, she received a BSc in science communication and policy in the Department of Science and Technology Studies.{{cite web|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/about/node/31/tabs#steph-mcgovern|title=BBC correspondent: Steph McGovern |website= University College London}} In 2013, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Teesside University.{{cite web | url=https://www.tees.ac.uk/sections/alumni/hon_grads.cfm |website=Teesside University |title = Alumni & friends - Honorary Graduates}}

McGovern started at the BBC doing work experience on the Tomorrow's World programme, before securing part-time employment as a researcher in current affairs. She became the main producer for daily financial news on the Today programme on Radio 4, before becoming the lead producer of business news on the BBC's One, Six and Ten O'Clock news bulletins, working with the then business editor, Robert Peston.{{citation needed | date=July 2018}}

McGovern has presented BBC Radio 5 Live's Wake Up to Money and On the Money and was BBC Breakfast{{'}}s main business presenter beginning in 2011,{{cite web |title=BBC Business Presenter Steph McGovern visits Business students |url=https://www.nelson.ac.uk/sixth-form/bbc-business-presenter-steph-mcgovern-visits-business-students/ |website=Nelson and Colne College |access-date=5 December 2021 |date=12 February 2014}} as well as a regular presenter of the entire show. She presented Pocket Money Pitch for CBBC.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2016/06/pocket-money-pitch|title=Pocket Money Pitch – Media Centre|website=bbc.co.uk|accessdate=7 December 2022}}

File:Ms. Stephanie McGovern (9136218630).jpg conference in 2013]]

Since March 2016, she has co-presented the consumer series Shop Well for Less with Alex Jones for BBC One. In 2018, McGovern presented a six-part BBC series called Made in Great Britain.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bpz2qb|title='Made in Great Britain|website=bbc.co.uk|accessdate=24 December 2020}}{{cite web |title=Steph McGovern |url=https://www.collegecommission.co.uk/steph-mcgovern |website=The Independent Commission on the College of the Future |access-date=5 December 2021}}

McGovern joined the BBC Watchdog presenting team from autumn 2016. She also co-presented Can Britain Have a Pay Rise? for BBC Two alongside James O'Brien and has been both a panellist and host on Have I Got News for You.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In October 2018, McGovern stated that she found Donald Trump "creepy" after he referred to her as "beautiful" during an interview in 2012. She is said to have brushed off Trump's comments by telling him she had heard "better lines" in Middlesbrough's Club Bongo.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45999196|title=BBC reporter brushed off Trump flattery|date=26 October 2018|work=BBC News}}

McGovern went on maternity leave from BBC Breakfast on 4 September 2019.{{Cite web |title= |url=https://x.com/bbcbreakfast/status/1169116629264818177?s=46&t=fHvncVy4KqmaJFSOgyhlKg}} On 21 October, it was announced that she would be leaving the BBC to join Channel 4.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-21 |title=McGovern leaving BBC Breakfast to present own Channel 4 show in Leeds - Prolific North |url=https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/mcgovern-leaving-bbc-breakfast-present-own-channel-4-show-leeds/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |language=en-GB}} She had been expected to host The Steph Show from spring 2020 at Channel 4's then-new base in Leeds,{{cite news |title=Steph McGovern: Presenter leaves BBC Breakfast for Channel 4 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50123720 |accessdate=21 October 2019 |work=BBC |date=21 October 2019}} however the COVID-19 pandemic meant that she began presenting The Steph Show from her front room on 30 March 2020.{{cite web|last=Craig |first=David |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-03-25/steph-mcgovern-show-channel-4/ |title=Steph McGovern to launch The Steph Show from living room |publisher=Radio Times |date=2020-03-25 |accessdate=2020-04-04}} The show eventually launched on 14 September 2020 as Steph's Packed Lunch.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 2021, she was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering,{{cite web |title=Academy celebrates first new Fellows elected under Fit for the Future diversity initiative |url=https://www.raeng.org.uk/news/news-releases/2021/september/academy-celebrates-first-new-fellows-elected-under |website=Royal Academy of Engineering |access-date=22 September 2021}} recognised as a "tireless champion for engineering and vocational skills".{{cite web |title=Steph McGovern HonFREng |url=https://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/the-fellowship/new-fellows-2021/honorary-fellows/steph-mcgovern |website=Royal Academy of Engineering |access-date=22 September 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923115756/https://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/the-fellowship/new-fellows-2021/honorary-fellows/steph-mcgovern |url-status=dead }}

In December 2021, McGovern was featured in the BBC Four series Walking with..., walking in Littondale in the Yorkshire Dales.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00111m9/walking-with-series-1-walking-with-steph-mcgovern |title=Walking With... - Series 1: Walking with Steph McGovern |via=www.bbc.co.uk |date=15 December 2021 |access-date=16 December 2021}}

McGovern was a contestant in the second series of The Masked Dancer under the stage name 'Tomato Sauce'. Her first appearance was on 10 September 2022 (Episode 2) and she was voted off on 1 October 2022 (Episode 5).{{cite web | url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/masked-dancer-2022-contestants-theories/| title=Who is in The Masked Dancer 2022 UK? }} She also hosts industrial events.{{cite web |title=Steph McGovern to host the BCIA Awards 2017 |url=https://www.clarksoncontrols.co.uk/steph-mcgovern-host-bcia-awards-2017/ |website=Clarkson Controls |access-date=5 December 2021 |quote=Building Controls Industry Awards}}

McGovern hosts The Rest Is Money podcast with her friend Robert Peston.{{cite web | url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-money/id1703785141 |title=The Rest Is Money - Goalhanger Podcasts|publisher=Apple |date=2023-09-22 |accessdate=2023-09-22}}

In September 2024, McGovern announced she had joined the cast of the upcoming BBC LGBTQ+ comedy Smoggie Queens, in her first acting role.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/smoggie-queens-casting-announcement|title=Michelle Visage and Charlotte Riley among supporting cast for upcoming BBC Comedy, Smoggie Queens|website=bbc.co.uk/mediacentre|date=19 September 2024|accessdate=19 September 2024}}

In 2025, McGovern was a finalist on Netflix's reality competition television series, Celebrity Bear Hunt.{{cite web|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/bear-hunt-netflix-line-up-holly-willoughby-bear-grylls-110912766.html|title=Full Celebrity Bear Hunt line-up with Holly Willoughby confirmed|website=uk.news.yahoo.com|access-date=15 January 2025}}

In February 2025, McGovern won £125,000 for charity, when she was a contestant on a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special.{{cite web|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-steph-mcgovern-surprising-past-220508432.html|title=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire unearths TV presenter Steph McGovern's surprising past|website=uk.news.yahoo.com|date=16 February 2025 |accessdate=17 February 2025}}

McGovern is a former champion Irish dancer and still often attends international competitions, where she helps to coach dancers.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/17582665 |title=Steph McGovern kicks off her shoes and dances |work=BBC News |date=2 April 2012 }}{{cite news|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16651989|title=Business News: Stephanie McGovern|accessdate=27 October 2018}}

McGovern has dated both men and women, explaining in 2021, "I've never officially come out... I didn't do this big thing of 'I am gay' like my mate Reg did... I just kind of go with the flow of things, and I did not really overthink it."{{Cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/20210507112654/steph-mcgovern-mystery-behind-girlfriend-identity/|title=Steph McGovern explains mystery behind girlfriend's identity|date=7 May 2021|website=HELLO!}} She confirmed, on 14 July 2019, that she was pregnant{{cite news |title=Steph McGovern: Presenter leaves BBC Breakfast for Channel 4 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50123720 |access-date=5 December 2021 |work=BBC News |date=21 October 2019}} and that she and her girlfriend were expecting their first child.{{cite web |url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/14/steph-mcgoverns-girlfriend-bbc-presenters-baby-due-10285875/ |title=Who is Steph McGovern's girlfriend and when is the BBC presenter's baby due? |last=Westbrook |first=Caroline |date=14 July 2019 |website=Metro |access-date=31 July 2019}} On 4 November 2019, McGovern gave birth to a girl.{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/08/bbc-breakfast-presenter-steph-mcgovern-37-welcomes-first-baby-girlfriend-10973269/|title=BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern, 37, welcomes first baby with girlfriend|date=2019-11-08|website=Metro|language=en|access-date=2019-11-08}}{{Cite web |last=Otter |first=Saffron |date=2019-11-08 |title=Former BBC Breakfast host Steph McGovern announces birth of baby girl |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/former-bbc-breakfast-presenter-steph-17224952.amp |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}} She lives in North Tyneside.{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Coreena |date=2022-07-14 |title=Steph McGovern launches new business partnership with guest who changed her life |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/tvs-steph-mcgovern-launches-new-24493776 |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=Business Live |quote=Ms McGovern, who now lives in North Tyneside, has invested in the doctor’s Kent-based start-up company, Neuron Wellness, a year after she appeared on the lunchtime show}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.channel4.com/programmes/stephs-packed-lunch Steph's Packed Lunch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918085636/https://www.channel4.com/programmes/stephs-packed-lunch |date=18 September 2020 }} on Channel 4
• [https://tvnewsroom.co.uk/biography-images/steph-mcgovern-40578/ Steph McGovern] TV Newsroom
• {{cite web |title=Steph McGovern |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/GPLWQPpj2xknMXZGbsNgCj/steph-mcgovern |website=Watchdog (TV programme) |publisher=BBC One}}
• {{IMDb name|5818990}}

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{{succession box

| before = Simon Jack

| title = Business Presenter: BBC Breakfast

| years = 2011–2019

| after = Nina Warhurst

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Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of University College London

Category:Female fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering

Category:Honorary Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering

Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists

Category:BBC Radio 5 Live presenters

Category:British business and financial journalists

Category:LGBTQ people from Yorkshire

Category:People from Middlesbrough

Category:English LGBTQ journalists

Category:1982 births