BBC anchorman Clive Myrie has earned praise from viewers and politicians alike for his work covering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Among his admirers is Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has hailed Myrie as an “unsung hero”.
Myrie has continued to report from Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, even as Russian troops close in on the city. The conflict has been raging since Russian forces were ordered to invade Ukraine last Thursday (February 24th).
As a seasoned newsreader and journalist as well as a presenter, Clive Myrie has long been a familiar face to British TV viewers. But just who is he, and how did he rise to prominence?
Who is Clive Myrie?
Clive Myrie is a journalist, newsreader and television presenter. As well as being a regular anchor on the BBC’s News at Six and News at Ten bulletins, he’s been the host of Mastermind and Celebrity Mastermind since August 2021.
Myrie joined the BBC in 1987 via its graduate journalism programme. Starting out as a trainee local radio reporter, he worked his way up and became a BBC foreign correspondent in 1996.
Since then, Clive Myrie has reported from all over the world, including conflict zones such as Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and now Ukraine. He has also served as BBC correspondent in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris and Asia.
In 2009, Myrie became a presenter on the BBC News Channel, and he began presenting BBC One weekday bulletins in 2014. He has also presented for BBC World News, including its coverage of the 2016 US presidential election.
Myrie is also known for his love of jazz music, and has cited Miles Davis as one of his favourite performers. Last year, he hosted a radio documentary series - The Definitive History of Jazz in Britain - for Jazz FM.
Where was Clive Myrie born?
Clive Myrie was born in Bolton in 1964. His parents are Jamaican migrants who first settled in Britain in the 1960s; his mother was a seamstress who worked for fashion designer Mary Quant, while his father was a factory worker.
His mother, Lynne, has spoken of her pride in her son’s achievements: “When Clive first appeared on television it was exciting for all of us. We wouldn’t miss a programme,” she told the Sunday Times.
“He’s on so much now that, to be honest, it has worn off,” she added. “I am proud of what he has achieved but I found it a big worry when he was reporting on wars around the world.”
Is Clive Myrie married?
Clive Myrie is married to wife Catherine, who works as an upholsterer and furniture restorer. The couple first met in 1992.
How much is Clive Myrie's salary?
The BBC publishes a list of its highest-paid stars each year as part of its annual report. The latest figures from 2019/2020 show that Clive Myrie was paid between £215,000 - £219,000 by the BBC for his work on BBC News Channel, BBC One and Panorama. This was an increase from 2018/2019 when he was paid between £200,000-£204,999.
Why is Clive Myrie still in Ukraine?
When asked why he was still reporting from Kyiv as Russian forces drew closer to the city, Clive Myrie insisted that it was essential for reporters to continue to provide accurate coverage of the ongoing conflict.
“We feel that we want to tell the story of this war and tell it accurately and fairly,” he explained. Myrie added that with so much misinformation about the conflict, it was important for journalists to be “truthful to this story”.
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