Kirsty Wark

Alumna and award-winning television journalist Kirsty Wark talks passion and career progression.

Your time at the University

I chose Edinburgh University because it had a newish course in Scottish Studies which was exactly what I was looking for, with wonderful faculty and very few students! I think in 1973 we were fewer that forty in number. It was a degree which was enriching and has been invaluable my whole life.

Despite this, the careers advice was terrible for me in 1976 the only reason I knew about the graduate entry programme at the BBC was because a friend at St Andrews was told about it by their careers advice service.

Through the graduate programme I joined the BBC in September 1976 straight from University and started as a researcher on Twelve Noon a daily programme on BBC Radio Scotland – I loved broadcasting from the get go and was lucky enough to have patient  producers who showed me the ropes.

Tell us about your Experiences since leaving the University

Through the graduate programme I joined the BBC in September 1976 straight from University and started as a researcher on Twelve Noon a daily programme on BBC Radio Scotland – I loved broadcasting from the get go and was lucky enough to have patient  producers who showed me the ropes. A year later after a short time working on Radio 4’s The World At One, I got a job as a television producer in 1983.

The move from producing to presenting, first with the current affairs show Seven Days, led to hosting the weekly Arts and Cultural review and comment programme, the Review Show (formerly Newsnight Review) for over a decade and interviews with everyone from Margaret Thatcher to George Clooney.

Alumni wisdom

Make sure you study something you are passionate about.

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