Kirsty Wark - Speaker

Kirsty Wark, speaker, is a prominent UK news journalist. She presented BBC's Newsnight for 30 years, stepping down after the 2024 General Election. Her career on Newsnight involved holding politicians and public figures accountable through her interviewing skills. She began her career as a journalist and producer on BBC Scotland, notably reporting on the Lockerbie bombing, before joining BBC 2's arts programme The Late Show and moving to Newsnight in 1993.
Kirsty has worked across both arts and news, hosting The Review Show for over a decade and presenting various BBC Arts series and documentaries. She has interviewed notable figures including Margaret Thatcher, Madonna, Harold Pinter, and George Clooney, as well as authors like Toni Morrison and Philip Roth. She also hosts Radio 4's series The Reunion and regularly presents Start the Week. Additionally, she continues to present arts programmes on TV and radio, including cultural history series such as The Women Who Changed Modern Scotland, Front Row, and Panorama specials.
Kirsty has received several awards for her work, including BAFTA Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting, Journalist of the Year, and Best Television Presenter. In 2024, she was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the RTS Journalism Awards. She is also known as an experienced conference chair and facilitator, available for keynote speaking, fireside chats, and awards hosting. For event bookings, contact the PepTalk team.