During a recent interview on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Clive Myrie, a news anchor at the BBC, spoke about the emotional impact of his work as a broadcaster and the burden of public prominence. Myrie revealed that the pain, longing, sadness, and regrets of others affect him deeply, and he has yet to adjust completely. He also talked about the personal impact of the Windrush scandal on him and his family.
As part of his job, Myrie is co-presenting the BBC’s election night coverage with Laura Kuenssberg, and he described the experience as being on the frontline of what it means to be British. The news anchor hopes that the election coverage will appeal to a broad audience and provide insight into where the country is headed. Myrie also reflected on his experiences as a foreign correspondent in war zones, noting that he has witnessed both the best and worst of humanity.
The 59-year-old broadcaster believes that increasing people’s knowledge of him will foster greater trust in him and the BBC. Myrie spoke to host Lauren Laverne about the need for role models like Sir Trevor McDonald, who inspired him to become a journalist. However, he stressed that he doesn’t want people to view him solely as a journalist who covers stories about black communities but rather as a journalist who happens to be black.
Myrie’s parents are Jamaican, and he grew up in Farnworth, near Bolton. He disclosed that the front room of his family home is filled with memories of the Caribbean and Jamaica, where his parents and older siblings were born. Furthermore, Myrie opened up about the Windrush scandal’s effect on his family, revealing that his brother Lionel has the right to stay in the UK, unlike his other brother, Peter, who died of prostate cancer before the situation was resolved.
Despite his significant role as a news anchor for the BBC, Myrie also spoke about the negative aspects of being a public figure. He revealed that he has received death threats and abusive letters in the past, with one person being prosecuted for death threats against him
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