Latest news with #ShereenNanjiani
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
After reading 'murders and fitba' on STV Shereen Nanjiani never strayed from Scotland
AH, Shereen. Ye ken who we mean. The People's Shereen. Household name an' a' that. Household first name indeed. Shereen Nanjiani used to read the 'murders and fitba'' news on Scotland Today at teatime. Then she went on to present current affairs radio programmes for the BBC. Until last week, that is, when she announced that, after 19 years, she was leaving to 'explore new adventures' and, er, enjoy a nice lie-in. Ach well, she certainly deserves it. Worked hard but it paid off, as she came to be 'much loved', as every newspaper profile acknowledges, on account of everyone finding her warm, nice and trustworthy. One imagines that's what everyone thought on 4 October 1961 when she was born in Elderslie, in the sunshine state of Renfrewshire. She cut her broadcasting teeth on Hospital Radio Paisley in the late 1970s, reading local news cuttings gathered during the week. After graduating from Glesga Yoonie, where she studied philosophy – makes you think, doesn't it? – she became a trainee journalist with STV in 1983, at the age of 22. However, hardly had she got her Biro out of her pocket than she was asked to present the evening bulletin after the regular presenter, Sheena McDonald, called in sick. 'I was aghast and immediately said I couldn't possibly do it,' she told The Herald in 2017. 'This was the main news programme, the big one, with a million viewers.' However, her boss told her reassuringly: 'Don't worry, if you f*** it up you won't be doing it again.' She didn't flip it up. In fact, she was a natural. And she loved it. Live TV: what a buzz! 'It really was a baptism of fire,' she recalled. 'I still hadn't had any training when I started doing the job for real – but I surprised myself how much I enjoyed it.' (Image: Yui Mok) MAKING THE NEWS SOON, she was appointed joint anchor of the main evening programme, and that was her for the next 20 years, reading all the news fit to blurt, as happy families gathered sociably in front of the television. She was Scotland's first Asian-heritage newsreader and, at first, was not chuffed at the channel's press releases majoring on that. 'I remember thinking, 'Oh, is that what you're seeing?' I was quite upset about it. I … wondered whether that was why I got the job. I thought it reeked of tokenism. 'I actually believe I did get the job on my own merits, but I thought it was a bit cynical of them to present me in that way. I spent much of my career railing against it, not wanting that tag to follow me around. And, of course, I was only half-Asian.' However, her feelings on the issue changed when she realised she'd become a role model for a whole generation of Asian Scots. 'So many young Asian people were coming up to me and saying, 'You've no idea what a difference it made seeing your face on TV.'' Of course, she suffered from imposter syndrome. Every genuine professional does. Anyone who doesn't suffer from imposter syndrome is an imposter. Shereen went on to present many programmes for STV, including religious affairs series Eikon, documentary series Secret Scotland, and a number of live debates and election programmes. She also hosted many of The Herald's Scottish Politician of the Year awards. At STV, she covered Lockerbie, Dunblane and the new Scottish Parliament. She also reported from Romanian orphanages after the fall of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, from South Africa after the election of Nelson Mandela, and from Pakistan after the 9/11 terror attacks. However, after 20 years of presenting in the studio, she told The Herald, 'it was beginning to feel like Groundhog Day and I just wasn't enjoying it so much'. READ MORE: Robert McNeil: I detest yon Romans but I dig excavating their wee fortlets RAB MCNEIL'S SCOTTISH ICONS: John Knox – the fiery preacher whose pal got burnt at the stake Rab McNeil: All this talk about celebs and their neuroses is getting on my nerves GAGA FOR RADIO IN 2006, along with colleagues Jane Lewis and Sarah Heaney, she accepted voluntary redundancy from STV She was looking forward to other exciting projects away from live television, she said. This turned out to be live radio, and it was on the BBC, hitherto her rivals. Nanjiani helmed, as they say, Radio Scotland's Friday lunchtime programme, Scotland Live. She then went on to present Shereen, a live news and current affairs programme broadcast every Sunday morning with a 'lively panel' of commentators, a guest in the headlines, and reviews of the latest TV and streaming releases. Last weekend, having by now earned the double-edged adjective 'legendary' (it hints of both achievement and, er, maturity), she announced she was stepping away from the mic. For noo. She said she'd loved being part of BBC Radio Scotland, where she'd made so many good friends. 'They made me laugh and they made me think' – see, that old philosophy degree was not a total waste of time, after all – 'and it's always been a joy to come to work in the morning.' However, she felt now was the time to 'get my weekends back again, have a lie in, and explore new adventures'. BBC Radio Scotland commissioning editor Heather Kane Darling said it had been a pleasure to work with Shereen over the last 19 years, adding: 'I know our teams will miss working with her, and we thank her for her professionalism and dedication during her time with us.' Outwith her professional career, Shereen has undertaken several voluntary sector roles, including Ambassador for St Vincent's Hospice, Children's Hearing panel member, Tron Theatre board member and chair, and National Theatre of Scotland board member. COPPING LAUGHS SHE once appeared as herself in a memorable episode of BBC police spoof comedy Scot Squad, in which she tried – and failed – to present a harassed Officer Karen with a certificate declaring her one of Scotland's community heroes. The first comment under the relevant YouTube clip reads: 'SHEREEN!!!! LEGEND!!!' My understanding is that the number of exclamation marks indicates the strength of emphasis. In 2019, Shereen was invited to join the British Empire, receiving an MBE at Buckingham Palace from Charles, Prince and later King of England and the Other Bits. Asked by The Herald's Marianne Taylor if she'd ever been tempted to move to London, following in the footsteps of other Scots like Selina Scott, Kirsty Wark and Lorraine Kelly, she replied: 'I've always been very comfortable in Scotland. I suppose I was always comfortable with the Scottish people, too … I like my life here. Maybe I could and should have spread my wings, but I have no regrets.' That's the spirit. Truly a woman with her talking head screwed on.
Glasgow Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
More than 50 jobs cut at BBC Scotland under spending squeeze
Dozens of editorial and production roles at BBC Scotland have gone as part of a drive to make £700m worth of savings a year across the UK. It is thought almost 4% of BBC Scotland's staff have left in the wake of the seven-month redundancy programme. The cuts have emerged following controversies over the BBC's plans to drop long-running soap opera River City and the cancellation of The Nine, the flagship news programme created for the BBC Scotland channel. Our sister title, The Herald, revealed last week that BBC Scotland was scaling back its coverage of Edinburgh's festivals, including dropping its annual pop-up venue, which played host to many of the biggest stars performing in the city in August. BBC Scotland is based at Pacific Quay in Glasgow. (Image: Getty) Long-time presenter Shereen Nanjiani announced at the weekend that she was stepping down from her Saturday morning show after almost 17 years at the BBC. The BBC promised that 80 new jobs would be created when the new £32 million channel, which launched in February 2019, was first announced more than eight years ago. River City is expected to be screened for the last time in the autumn of 2026. (Image: Image: Archive) However the BBC has been forced to roll-out significant cuts across the UK since then, amid calls for a reform of the licence fee system. The BBC has said that below inflation rises or licence fee freezes have seen it lose out on more than £1 billion over the last decade. BBC Scotland had 1276 staff according to its most recent annual report, which was published before the start of the recent redundancy programme. Director-general Tim Davie announced in March 2024 that the BBC was having to increase its annual savings target by £200m to £700m a year by 2028, as he revealed that the broadcaster planned to explore ways to reform the licence fee, which is set by the UK Government, but had been frozen for the previous two years. At the time, Mr Davie highlighted how below inflationary settlements had 'chipped away' at the BBC's income for years, resulting in a 30 per cent cut between 2010 and 2020. Within months, the BBC had announced plans to cut 500 jobs across its UK services by March 2026 as part of plans to become a 'leaner, more agile organisation". The BBC told staff last September that it planned to cut around 115 editorial and production jobs in its 'nations and regions' teams in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The BBC said they were aiming to make savings 'without closing any major services' while focusing on 'areas that deliver maximum value for audiences". The broadcaster said: 'We have been clear that the significant funding pressures we face means that every division in the BBC needs to make savings.' Between 20 and 30 jobs had expected to go in Scotland under the redundancy programme, which was announced months after the BBC announced plans to drop The Nine, the hour-long news programme created for the launch of the BBC Scotland channel in 2019, and replace it with a new half-hour show running after the main Reporting Scotland programme. A shake-up in BBC Scotland's arts coverage has seen singer and broadcaster Michelle McManus fronting a new celebrity-focus two-hour radio programme, with poet Len Pennie presenting a half-show Scottish culture show, The Arts Mix. BBC Scotland's redundancy programme ran until March, when it sparked anger from actors, union leaders and politicians when they announced plans to bring River City to an end. The final instalments are due to be screened in the autumn of 2026 – around 24 years after its launch. The BBC, which spends around £300m in Scotland, around 90% of what is generated by the licence fee north of the border, has promised that River City's £9m annual budget will be reinvested in three new drama series which will be set in and around Glasgow. The BBC has pledged that it will be spending £95m in drama in Scotland between 2026 and 2028. Although more than 12,000 supporters have backed a petition calling for River City to be saved, BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine last month told the Scottish Parliament that the show no longer provided 'value for money' after its audience 'declined significantly' over the last five years. The Herald revealed last week that BBC Scotland had decided to scale back its coverage of Edinburgh's festivals. It will not be running a pop-up venue for ticketed broadcasts and recordings for the first time 2010. Just five days of events with audiences will be staged under plans to share space with the Pleasance, one of the biggest Fringe venue operators, at the EICC and its long-running courtyard. According to the latest BBC annual report, around 57 per cent of adults in Scotland consume BBC Scotland content each week via TV and radio broadcasts, its iPlayer platform and the BBC website. A spokesperson for BBC Scotland said: 'The BBC operates within a fiercely competitive marketplace and has experienced, since 2010, a 30% cut in real terms to its budget. 'As a result, tough choices have to be made when it comes to commissioning content with decisions being driven by what provides best value for money. 'With regards to headcount, in the last 12 months alone, more than 50 BBC roles in Scotland have been closed via a redundancy programme. 'The redundancy programme has finished. It ran from September last year until the end of March, as part of a pan-BBC drive to make £700m of savings, which is set against a £1bn real-terms cut to the overall budget in the last 15 years. There isn't a recruitment freeze across BBC Scotland at the moment.'
Glasgow Times
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Legendary BBC Scotland presenter steps away from show
Broadcaster Shereen Nanjiani presented her final Saturday morning radio show on BBC Radio Scotland on Saturday, June 14, BBC News reported. The 'Shereen' show originally launched in 2008 and featured Nanjiani and a range of guests debating big talking points each week and reviewing the latest TV and streaming releases. Before joining the BBC, the 63-year-old was a well-known STV newsreader for 20 years. Legendary BBC Scotland presenter steps away from show (Image: Newsquest) Born in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, in 1961, Nanjiani graduated from the University of Glasgow before she began her broadcasting career at the age of 22 as a trainee journalist at STV. Following that, the much-loved presenter went on to become Scotland's first Asian-heritage newsreader, presenting Scotland Today for two decades until she left STV in 2006. In 2020, the star was awarded an MBE for her services to Scottish broadcasting. READ MORE: BBC Scotland reveal big change after departure of presenter Following her departure, Nanjiani revealed she had loved being part of the BBC Radio Scotland weekend family for so long. She said: "I've made so many good friends on the show over the years. "They made me laugh and they made me think, and it's always been a joy to come to work in the morning. "Finally, I'd like to thank our lovely listeners who've stayed with us throughout the years and joined in the conversation. "I'll miss them all, but this feels like a good time in my life to get my weekends back again, have a lie in, and explore new adventures." BBC Radio Scotland commissioning editor Heather Kane Darling added: "Shereen is one of Scotland's most experienced and respected broadcasters, and it's been a pleasure to work with her over the last 19 years. "I know our teams will miss working with her, and we thank her for her professionalism and dedication during her time with us." The BBC reported that over the summer, the 10am to 11.30am slot will be filled by Saturday Morning with Zara Janjua. Details of the new show for autumn will be announced in due course.
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Much-loved BBC star steps away from show after 17 years
Read on to discover who the temporary host will be over the summer SIGNING OFF Much-loved BBC star steps away from show after 17 years Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BROADCASTER Shereen Nanjiani has stepped away from her Saturday morning radio show. The Scots presenter, 63, has been at the helm of the Shereen show for 17 and secured her place as a fan favourite with her mix of news and light-hearted debate. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Shereen Nanjiani has stepped away from her BBC Radio Scotland show Credit: David Henderson - The Sun Glasgow A new Saturday morning radio show will launch in the Autumn, with the details to be announced in due course. The host said: "I've made so many good friends on the show over the years. "They made me laugh and they made me think and it's always been a joy to come to work in the morning," she said. "Finally, I'd like to thank our lovely listeners who've stayed with us throughout the years and joined in the conversation. "I'll miss them all but this feels like a good time in my life to get my weekends back again, have a lie in, and explore new adventures." BBC Radio Scotland commissioning editor Heather Kane Darling added: "Shereen is one of Scotland's most experienced and respected broadcasters and it's been a pleasure to work with her over the last 19 years. "I know our teams will miss working with her and we thank her for her professionalism and dedication during her time with us." The Scottish Sun's Zara Janjua will cover the morning slot over the summer months. Elsewhere at the station, four senior journalists have lodged complaints with the BBC bosses in a fresh ageism row. Their separate — but coordinated — discrimination claims come as the broadcaster merges its home and foreign newsdesks. Bosses hope slashing 130 jobs will help save £700million. But the four, said to have worked in warzones and the aftermath of terror attacks, fear they have been earmarked for compulsory redundancy. Their move follows a group of BBC News presenters going to an employment tribunal over ageism allegations. Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh settled their three-year dispute in March, with the terms not disclosed.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Shereen Nanjiani signs off from BBC Radio Scotland after 17 years
Broadcaster Shereen Nanjiani has presented her final Saturday morning radio show after almost 17 years on BBC Radio 'Shereen' show launched in 2008 and featured Nanjiani and a range of guests debating the week's big talking points as well as reviewing the latest TV and streaming releases. The 63-year-old, who was an STV newsreader for 20 years before she joined the BBC, said it felt like a good time to get her weekends back and explore new adventures.A new Saturday morning radio show will launch in the Autumn, with the details to be announced in due course. Nanjiani was born in Elderslie in Renfrewshire in 1961, the daughter of an eye surgeon from Pakistan and an English graduating from the University of Glasgow, she began her broadcasting career at the age of 22 as a trainee journalist at went on to become Scotland's first Asian-heritage newsreader, presenting Scotland Today for two decades until she left STV in moving to the BBC, she began presenting the radio programme Scotland Live before moving on to her own weekend show in 2008. In 2020, she was awarded the MBE for services to Scottish broadcasting. Nanjiani said she had loved being part of the BBC Radio Scotland weekend family for so long."I've made so many good friends on the show over the years. They made me laugh and they made me think and it's always been a joy to come to work in the morning," she said."Finally, I'd like to thank our lovely listeners who've stayed with us throughout the years and joined in the conversation. "I'll miss them all but this feels like a good time in my life to get my weekends back again, have a lie in, and explore new adventures."BBC Radio Scotland commissioning editor Heather Kane Darling said: "Shereen is one of Scotland's most experienced and respected broadcasters and it's been a pleasure to work with her over the last 19 years. "I know our teams will miss working with her and we thank her for her professionalism and dedication during her time with us."Over the summer, the 10:00 to 11:30 slot will be filled by Saturday Morning with Zara Janjua, which will feature a blend of entertainment and debate. Details of the new show for the autumn will be announced later.
