Nicholas Owen

Meet Nicholas Owen

Nicholas Owen is one of news broadcasting’s best-known faces and voices. He has been a Presenter on the BBC and ITN, and Classic FM. He also hosts many corporate and charity events.

He began his journalism in 1964 on the Surrey Mirror, before going on to Fleet Street, with the Evening Standard, Daily Telegraph, and the Financial Times. He first joined the BBC in the North East of England in 1981. In 1984 he switched to ITN where his roles included anchoring News at Ten and Channel Four News.

Between 1994 and 2000 he was ITN’s Royal Correspondent. The job took him all over the world covering Royal tours, and he reported many dramas back home in what was a turbulent time for the monarchy. He played a major part in covering the death and funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. Afterwards, he compiled a book on her life, updated and republished in 2017. He rejoined the BBC in 2007.

Nicholas has appeared in many TV and radio programmes, among them Strictly Come Dancing in 2006, Celebrity Mastermind, and Countdown. He has also presented the Proms programme for BBC2. He is an after-dinner and after-lunch speaker and has toured in a light-hearted one-man show based on his half a century in the media. His memoirs, Days Like This, were published in 2012. He gives talks and lectures at home and abroad. In 2015 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Brighton University for his work in journalism and his support for various charities. He is an Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and a volunteer and fundraiser for the Children’s Trust, which helps youngsters with brain injury and other neurodisabilities.

He plays golf and bridge, and has a passion for railways and light rail. Nicholas and his journalist wife Brenda live in Surrey, have four children, and lots of grandchildren.