Jago, Becky

Becky was born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and graduated from the University of Bedfordshire with a BA in Media Performance in 1997.

She began her career at Vibe FM radio station (later known as Vibe 105 – 108, and now Kiss 105 – 108) in 1998. Initially reading travel news, she progressed to co-presenting the breakfast show.

After appearing in an Anglia TV documentary about body piercing and tattoos (Becky got her tongue pierced in Japan), she was spotted by producers at the news department, who hired her as their weather presenter in September 1999.

Becky also appeared on Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff, where she introduced phone-in contributors.

In November 2001, she joined the CBBC children’s news programme Newsround as one of the main presenters. During her time there, she co-presented the show’s 30th anniversary edition in April 2002 alongside Lizo Mzimba and founding presenter John Craven.

She also appeared on a celebrity version of The Weakest Link, where she admitted she didn’t do as well as she’d hoped!

Becky joined Capital London on 28th February 2003 as showbiz correspondent for Chris Tarrant’s Capital Breakfast show. She remained when Johnny Vaughan took over as host in 2004, but left when her contract ended in December 2004.

She then had stints as a reporter on GMTV’s Entertainment Today programme and Sky Sports News before returning to ITV Anglia in May 2005 as a feature reporter and presenter.

Since 12th February 2009, Becky has been co-anchor of ITV News Anglia, initially alongside Jonathan Wills and later with David Whiteley.

She is an official patron of Keeping Abreast, a charity supporting those considering or undergoing breast reconstruction.

Becky grew up in Stowmarket and followed Ipswich Town as a child.

She married in December 2004 and has three sons.

Interview

Paul R. Jackson interviewed Becky by phone in August 2025.

Tell us about your early radio career

“I had wanted to be an actress and thought I would do a year at drama school. However, my mum died of cancer after university and I stayed at home to be with my dad.

“I didn’t watch much TV as a child as I was always out at some club or another (singing, drama, violin, piano, ballet, football – my poor parents!!)

“A university friend told me about Vibe FM opening in nearby Bury and gave me the number of the programme controller Barry Jones. He gave me work experience. 

“Once the travel girl was off poorly and I was asked to cover. She never returned.

“Anglia TV provided the news to the radio station and I read out the faxes from them. I had a tongue piercing whilst travelling in Japan and was asked to be in the documentary on body piercings and tattoos.”

How did the weather presenter role at Anglia TV come about?

“The camera person from the documentary told Anglia bosses I might be good at TV, so they invited me in to have a go at presenting the weather and I got the job.

“I had no training at the Norwich Weather Centre and was not a trained meteorologist, as many are now. I got the script and presented it.

“I was interested in the weather from my dad and my knowledge increased.

“I respected the heritage of past weather presenters, like Michael Hunt and David Brooks, who were experts in their field and local legends.

“I did it for two years and left towards the end of 2001.

How did your spot on Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff come about?

“Anglia originally produced the programme. I would go out into Norwich and do vox pops early in the morning, then do the show, and then go back to the newsroom for the weather job.

“I was the show’s first ‘booth girl’ and did it for a year.”

What are your memories of working on Newsround?

“I was aware of stepping into a high-profile programme and that it had a big audience. Whilst there, they did a survey that showed more adults watched the programme than children.

“The first time I presented the programme, the large plasma TV fell down behind me out of vision, but you could hear it crash. I was told that if I could cope with that on live TV, I could cope with anything.

“It was a great job as you were sent out to interview the top celebrities and pop stars of the day.

“I went to interview Prime Minister Tony Blair in the garden of No 10 Downing Street. He had mis-heard his press officer and thought I was a press packer! He was very embarrassed when he asked my age, thinking I was 12 and I replied that I was in my early twenties.

“A sadder story was the disappearance and killing of 13-year-old school child Milly Dowler in March 2002.

“I did the first interview with her sister Gemma and got to know the family a little.

“I was the first to report when her body was found on 18th September 2002, as we went on air. It was so tragic.

“I also reported about Bollywood from Mumbai and went to West Africa about child trafficking.

What are your memories of presenting the 30th anniversary Newsround?

“It was the first time that I had met John Craven. I told him that he reminded me of my dad!

“He was a little nervous, maybe because he hadn’t done live TV for a while and it was a big thing returning.

“I realised I was in the presence of a legend – a lovely man, warm hearted and nothing starry about him.

“I left the programme late in 2002.”

Was it a big decision to move from TV to radio at Capital?

“Some questioned my decision and it wasn’t an easy one to make.

“I did ask if I could do both and CBBC tried to keep me, but my agent at the time said presenters can get labelled as a children’s presenter if they stayed more than a few years.

“Capital was offering more money, which helped me get on the housing ladder. I also missed the banter and freedom you got on radio.”

Any favourite red carpet events or celebrity interviews during this period?

“I met many, including Destiny’s Child (including Beyoncé) and Kylie Minogue, who didn’t disappoint and was adorable.”

When you returned to Anglia TV in 2005, did you also present the main evening news?

“I returned as a reporter, which I did for a few years. I began presenting the west edition on a Friday evening.

“Clare Weller and Stephen Lee, then Jonathan Wills were the presenters in the east region and Caroline Oldrey and Tim Curtis presented in the west region.

“I went off on maternity leave for a year and on my return, I did two days, one reporting and one presenting.

“When the two parts of the region merged in 2009, I began presenting with Jonathan.”

Any anecdotes from your time at Anglia TV?

“Thankfully being in the studio, it’s not often that things go badly wrong.

“As a reporter at the V Festival, some guys jumped on me as we cut away back to the studio.

“I enjoy doing the OBs too – including reporting live from a full plane that was about to take off at Stanstead.”

Any memories of the 50th and 60th anniversaries at Anglia TV?

“They were fantastic. I love the heritage here and it was lovely meeting many old faces, including Christine Webber and Helen McDermott.

“In 2026, it will be my 21st consecutive year as presenter. I feel very lucky that my job fits into family life and provides the perfect balance.”

 

Personal information

Clips of Becky on The TV Room

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Online presence

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