Isla Traquair Explained

Isla Traquair
Birthname:Isla Fiona Traquair
Birth Date:1980 1, df=yes
Occupation:Journalist; Newsreader; TV presenter
Education:Westhill Academy, Aberdeen, Scotland
Credits:ITV News
5 News
Buy.o.logic
Website:Official Website

Isla Traquair (born 1 January 1980) is a Scottish television host, producer and journalist. She has worked with STV, Channel 5, and ITN. She is currently based between the UK and North America where she is the host of the TV show Buy.o.logic on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Early life

Traquair was born in Aberdeen on New Year's Day 1980 to parents Ian Traquair, a software developer, and Maureen Traquair, a school teacher. She has 3 brothers. She is the great great granddaughter of Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852–1936), a Scottish artist.

At the age of 15, Traquair began working one day a week at a press agency fitting it in around her studies. During this work placement, Traquair wrote a front-page story in a national paper about job losses due to the beef crisis.

Newspaper journalism

In 1996, after cutting short her final year at school, Traquair was selected from hundreds of entrants to take part in an in-house training scheme with Aberdeen Journals. She remained with the newspaper group for nearly five years; for the last two she was the crime and court reporter for local Aberdeenshire broadsheet The Press and Journal.[1]

Television career

In Scotland

Traquair joined Grampian Television (now STV North) in early 2001 as a reporter, presenter and producer for North Tonight, Grampian Headlines, Grampian News and North Today.

Traquair's interest in crime also led to STV North and Central's TV series Unsolved which looked into Scotland's most intriguing murder mysteries. Traquair was involved in all three series, writing and producing the final series. The series sold worldwide.

ITV and Five News

After joining ITV News in November 2006, Traquair left to join Five News as a news correspondent and presenter. In June 2008, it was announced that she and Matt Barbet would stand-in for Natasha Kaplinsky during her maternity leave.[2] Traquair continued to be the anchor of the 7:00 pm news programme after Kaplinsky's return. After Traquair left Five News, the slot was taken over by a chat show.

Personal life

Traquair separated from her husband in 2007 and later divorced.[3] A male neighbour was convicted of stalking Traquair in July 2022.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Source: Five News
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/20/channelfive.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media Five announces Isla Traquair and Matt Barbet as Kaplinsky stand-ins
  3. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/television-news/2009/08/09/exclusive-scots-newsreader-isla-traquair-moving-on-from-five-78057-21584206/ Exclusive - Scots newsreader Isla Traquair moving on from Five
  4. News: Cutler. Alex. Isla Traquair: Gardener convicted of stalking Scottish TV news anchor. The Scotsman. 7 July 2022. 8 July 2022.