Simon McCoy explained

Simon McCoy
Birth Date:1961 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Hammersmith, London, England
Education:Sherborne School
Spouse:
    Children:1

    Simon McCoy (born 7 October 1961) is a British journalist and former newsreader on BBC News, Sky News and GB News.

    Early life

    McCoy was born on 7 October 1961 in Hammersmith. He was educated at the private Sherborne School in the town of Sherborne in north-west Dorset, England.

    Career

    McCoy started his journalism career at the Fleet Street News Agency in London[1] before joining Thames TV as a researcher for Thames News in 1983. After time as a scriptwriter at Thames TV, in 1986 he joined the breakfast TV station TV-am as a news editor.[1] In 1988, McCoy left to go to new satellite channel Sky – initially as a producer on the Sky News breakfast programme Sunrise.

    In 2003, McCoy co-anchored Sky's coverage of the Iraq War on location in Kuwait and Basra. He was on air for five hours every day of the conflict.[2]

    In January 2004, McCoy joined the BBC, and could be seen on BBC Breakfast and BBC News 24, initially as a cover presenter for both.[1] In September 2005, he took over the morning slot on BBC News alongside Kate Silverton following Phillip Hayton's sudden departure after Hayton fell out with Silverton. When reviewing the papers the following day, McCoy tried to point out the story, but was prevented by Silverton.[3] In December 2007, Silverton left the shift to host the 8pm Update.

    On 9 March 2012, McCoy was apparently caught asleep face-down at the newsdesk as BBC Breakfast handed over to the BBC News channel at 8:30 am. McCoy joked that he had "just been told the Queen wanted me to cover her next visit".[4]

    Shortly before 1pm GMT on 18 March 2013, McCoy and co-presenter Sophie Long read the final BBC News bulletin from BBC Television Centre, with BBC News moving to Broadcasting House in the West End of London for the BBC News at One.

    On 22 July, McCoy was on the roster for coverage of the birth of the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who a few days later was named Prince George of Cambridge. Stationed outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital with often little or no news to share, McCoy's comments concerning the value of the news coverage made for (often sympathetic) headlines. He said: "The news is there is no news".[5] [6]

    In September 2013, a live broadcast by McCoy went viral after he inadvertently picked up a refill pack of A4 printer paper instead of his iPad while presenting to camera.[7] A BBC spokeswoman said: "This morning as Simon McCoy was preparing to introduce this story, instead of picking up his tablet to hold as he went to air, he mistakenly picked up a ream of paper that was sitting next to it. In the rush of live news, he didn't have an opportunity to swap the items, so simply went with it."[8]

    McCoy presented the weekday 2–5 pm slot, titled Afternoon Live, on BBC News.[9]

    On 25 March 2021, McCoy announced it was his last day working for the BBC. It was later announced he was moving to GB News to present an afternoon show alongside Alex Phillips titled McCoy & Phillips.[10] [11] On his reason for leaving the BBC and joining GB News, he said he wanted a new challenge. He also said he was "not a leftie BBC journalist" and voted 'Leave' in the 2016 EU referendum.[12] [13] In July 2021, he moved to present the breakfast show, The Great British Breakfast, alongside Kirsty Gallacher.[14] In December 2021, McCoy left GB News citing personal reasons.[15] The GB News morning show direct replacement for McCoy was veteran broadcaster Eamonn Holmes who joined the breakfast team from ITV, on the 3 January 2022.[16] [17]

    Personal life

    On 28 September 2007, he married Victoria Graham of BBC South West.[18] They announced their divorce in January 2019.[19] In 2020 McCoy was reported as being in a relationship with the actress Emma Samms.[20] They married on 9 October 2021[21] and live in the Cotswolds near Stroud.[22] [23]

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/11_november/18/simon_mccoy.shtml Simon McCoy joins the BBC
    2. Web site: BBC Press Office – Simon McCoy . 25 July 2013 . 25 July 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090607053209/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/news/simonmccoy.shtml . 7 June 2009 .
    3. https://web.archive.org/web/20070314171233/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/28/nbbc28.xml&site=5 Silverton Sparkles With New Co-host McCoy
    4. News: Alastair . Plumb . BBC Breakfast Presenter Simon McCoy Caught Sleeping On His Desk . Huffington Post UK . 9 March 2012 . 1 August 2019.
    5. News: Felicity. Morse. Royal baby watch: BBC Reporter Simon McCoy admits Duchess of Cambridge labour coverage is 'not news'. The Independent. 23 July 2013. 25 July 2013.
    6. News: Michael. Deacon. Royal baby sketch: 'Breaking news: we have no news!'. The Daily Telegraph. 22 July 2013. 22 July 2013.
    7. Web site: Tamplin. Harley. 20 September 2017. It's four years since a BBC presenter held A4 paper instead of a tablet. 14 April 2021. Metro.
    8. News: BBC presenter does live broadcast clutching stack of paper instead of iPad. Halliday. Josh. 18 September 2013. The Guardian. 28 August 2017. 0261-3077.
    9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09b6csr BBC News Channel - Afternoon Live
    10. News: Sherwin . Adam . Simon McCoy leaving BBC News to join GB News - taking sarcasm and viral gaffes with him . inews.co.uk . 25 March 2021 . 25 March 2021.
    11. News: Sherwin . Adam . Simon McCoy: 'Why I quit the BBC for GB News – and no more waiting for Royal babies' . 18 July 2021 . i . 11 June 2021.
    12. News: Singh. Anita. 11 June 2021. Simon McCoy: 'I'm not a leftie BBC journalist – I voted Leave'. The Telegraph. subscription. 11 June 2021. 0307-1235.
    13. News: Waterson . Jim . GB News shows attracted zero viewers after boycott over taking the knee . The Guardian . 15 July 2021 . 18 July 2021.
    14. News: Adam . Sherwin . Butterworth . Benjamin . GB News director of programmes quits as Simon McCoy leaves afternoon show for breakfast slot . 18 July 2021 . i . 16 July 2021.
    15. News: 2021-12-11. Simon McCoy becomes latest presenter to leave GB News. BBC News. 2021-12-11.
    16. Web site: 2021-12-11 . Simon McCoy becomes latest presenter to depart GB News, citing ‘personal reasons’ . 2023-12-24 . The Independent . en.
    17. News: Badshah . Nadeem . 2021-12-10 . Simon McCoy becomes latest presenter to depart GB News . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-12-24 . 0261-3077.
    18. Web site: Biography – Victoria Graham. BBC Press Office. 29 September 2008. September 2008.
    19. News: BBC News anchor Simon McCoy ends 12-year marriage to Victoria Graham. Metro. Pearce. Tilly. 26 January 2019. 26 June 2019.
    20. News: BBC news presenter Simon McCoy is dating a Dynasty star. Helen. Carter. 14 March 2020. 10 October 2021. Manchester Evening News.
    21. 1447211266804695042. Samms. Emma. EmmaSamms1. Yesterday was a very good day ❤️ @SimonMcCoyTV #MrandMrs. 10 October 2021. 10 October 2021.
    22. News: Bennett . Geoffrey . Gloucestershire-based celebrities Emma Samms and Simon McCoy tie the knot . 10 October 2021 . Gloucestershire Live . 10 October 2021.
    23. News: Correspondent . Will Humphries, Southwest . Actress Emma Samms suffers six-month hell of Covid fatigue . . en . 2023-04-22 . 0140-0460.