Owen, Nick

Nick Owen was born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

He has enjoyed a distinguished broadcasting career spanning both regional and national television, with ITV and the BBC since the late 1970s.

He attended Kingsland Grange Prep School, where he formed a lasting friendship with Bob Warman, who would also become a prominent Midlands broadcaster.

Owen went on to Leeds University, graduating with a BA (Hons) in Classics in 1970.

His entry into journalism came in July 1969, when he joined the Doncaster Evening Post as a graduate trainee. Two years later, he moved to the Birmingham Post, working as a reporter, between 1972 and 1973.

In 1973, Owen transitioned to BBC Radio Birmingham, initially serving as a news producer before being promoted to sports editor. His debut live broadcast was an early morning news bulletin on the Les Ross programme.

Television beckoned in 1978, when he joined ATV, ITV’s Midlands franchise, as a sports reporter, commentator and presenter on ATV Today.

His assignments included reporting from the 1980 European Football Championships and providing commentary for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

Between 1981 and 1983, he narrated the opening two series of the darts quiz show Bullseye, and made an appearance in a charity special in 1983.

Following ATV’s loss of its franchise, Owen transferred to its successor, Central Television.

The company planned separate news services for the eastern and western Midlands, and he was paired with Anne Diamond to present Central News East.

An industrial dispute at the new Nottingham studios, however, meant they never broadcast from that location.

In January 1983, Owen joined TV-am, ITV’s breakfast service, as a sports reporter, gaining national visibility.

By 4th April 1983, he had replaced David Frost as the principal male co-presenter of Good Morning Britain.

When Anne Diamond later joined the station, the duo reunited on screen, remaining a popular pairing until Owen’s departure in 1986.

During this turbulent period, newly appointed executive Greg Dyke recognised the audience appeal of puppet character Roland Rat, helping to revitalise the struggling station.

Owen subsequently joined ITV Sport, presenting Midweek Sports Special, coverage of the 1988 Olympic Games, Euro 88, the 1990 FIFA World Cup, as well as athletics and boxing.

His other credits included Sporting Triangles (1987), Hitman, and all of ITV’s royal premiere broadcasts between 1986 and 1992.

In 1989, he and Diamond briefly deputised for Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan on Granada Television’s This Morning.

He moved to the BBC in 1992 to co-present Good Morning with Anne and Nick on BBC One – a programme that ran until 1996.

A year later, Owen returned to regional broadcasting, joining Midlands Today as a presenter. In 2022, he marked 25 years with the programme.

During the 2020 Covid lockdown, he reunited with Anne Diamond to present an online talk show.

In August 2023, Owen revealed he was undergoing treatment for what he described as “extensive and aggressive” prostate cancer, acknowledging that the period since receiving his biopsy results in April had been “grim”.

After several months away from Midlands Today, he returned to the programme on 11th September 2023.

On 8th January 2026, the BBC revealed that Nick was recovering after surgery for kidney cancer.

The kidney cancer diagnosis was not connected with his prostate cancer.

Owen said: “I am so relieved to have come through the operation after a traumatic time, especially after what my wife Vicki and our family went through when I had prostate cancer. It’s been tough, but things are picking up now.”

Speaking about his treatment, Owen said: “The NHS has been absolutely brilliant – from my GP, who was so thorough in getting me a diagnosis, to all the medics at Russells Hall Hospital.

“I am forever grateful.”

Beyond broadcasting, Owen served as chairman of Luton Town Football Club from 2008 to 2017.

His contributions to television have been recognised with numerous honours.

In 2006, the Royal Television Society’s Midlands branch awarded him the Baird Medal for lifetime achievement. In 2023, the same organisation named him On Screen Personality of the Year.

He was appointed MBE in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours and received the honour from HRH The Princess Royal at Windsor Castle on 29th October 2024.

Owen published his autobiography, In the Time of Nick, through Brewin Books in 2004.

He was married to Jill Lavery from 1977 until 2009.

In July 2020, he married his long-term partner, reflexologist Vicki Beevers.

Correspondence

Paul R. Jackson corresponded with Nick in August 2025, about his long broadcasting career.

Had you always wanted to get into broadcasting? What prompted your move to BBC Radio Birmingham?

“Broadcasting never crossed my mind. My ambition was Fleet Street, but I got diverted by the advent of BBC local radio.

“While working in Birmingham, I kept meeting reporters from the newish BBC Radio Birmingham and they tempted me to apply for a job.

“After two failed attempts to join the BBC, I finally made it in late 1973.

Was it an easy transition to make from radio to TV – and did you take to it easily?

“After five years producing, presenting and reporting for local radio, I was a little dubious when I was approached to try TV, but I like to feel I settled in quite quickly.”

What are your memories of working at the old Pebble Mill studios and did you bump into any of the celebrities that appeared on Pebble Mill at One?

“Yes, there was always a buzz about Pebble Mill because so much was being produced there both on radio and television. You often bumped into mega celebs in the corridor.

“Of course, nearly 20 years later those mega celebs were appearing on our own programme Good Morning with Anne and Nick, which itself came from the foyer.”

Who were your colleagues on ATV Today and was Bob the main presenter? When did you first meet and work with Anne Diamond – was it during this period?

“The main presenter on ATV when I started was Derek Hobson, later followed by Bob Warman. Loads of great colleagues at ATV, including Chris Tarrant who I still see socially today and Anne Diamond.

“Anne and I became great friends during those ATV/Central days, especially after we were picked out to be the launch presenters of Central News East.

“Even though the show never got off the ground because of the industrial dispute, we worked together on loads of pilot shows in Nottingham and then had to go back to Birmingham to share presenting duties with Bob and Wendy Nelson.”

Was 1980 your first time working for ITV Sport?

“After I joined ATV, mainly to cover sport in 1978, I often contributed to ITV Sport network, mostly for On the Ball.

“I became more involved in 1980 with the European Championships and then, of course, commentating and reporting for the World Cup in 1982.”

How did you get to work on Bullseye and were you in the studio for the recordings or did you do it later in a voice booth?

“It was still coming from Birmingham when they asked me to do the voiceovers.

“I suppose I was readily available voice at the time, living locally and obviously knew all the production team really well, as we all worked together on other programmes at ATV and later Central.”

What are your memories of the aborted launch of Central News East in Nottingham? When did you leave Central?

“Anne and I did appear regularly together from Birmingham as Central had to cover both east and west regions for the time being.

“That is when I realised we had a great partnership going, developed a strong friendship and that took off on national TV, not long afterwards with TV-am.

“The aborted launch of Central News East was so disappointing. Anne and I plus all the production staff had worked so hard to start up the new station.

“The plug was only pulled within an hour or so of going on air, from what I remember. The studios were packed with dignitaries.

“I left Central at the end of 1982 and joined TV-am at the beginning of January 1983.”

What are your memories of working for TV-am in Camden Lock? Anyone you interviewed that stood out – or someone you always wanted to meet or whose career you enjoyed?

“I absolutely loved everything about Camden Lock. Fabulous colleagues, friendships forged in the white heat of derision from the wider world as we tried to pioneer a new concept in the UK.

“After all the close calls when the station nearly folded, proud to say it became hugely successful.

“I can hardly mention all the outstanding people I have met and interviewed.

“Eight past or present PMs for a start. Pop stars from the Beatles to the Bee Gees to the Everly Brothers to the Kinks, the Animals, Genesis, Wham, Tom Jones, Elton John. I could go on!

“Sporting legends too from athletics, cricket, boxing, football and many became great friends.

“My favourite was Eric Morecambe, my all-time hero.

“Bob Hope in his back garden in LA, Jane Fonda, Bette Midler – fantastic memories.

“Of course, we interviewed loads of great names too on Good Morning with Anne and Nick in the 1990s on BBC One.

“I feel very fortunate.”

Who are your sporting icons – that you met and interviewed?

“I have interviewed Maradona, Bobby Moore, Bobby and Jack Charlton, Geoff Hurst, Gordon Banks, Jimmy Greaves, Brian Clough and many many more.

“My panel for the World Cup semi-final in 1990 was Greaves, Hurst, Banks.”

Re royal premieres – any that particularly stood out? And any film stars you enjoyed meeting?

“As for Royal premieres, these happened for me during my time as ITV Sport’s main presenter, from 1986 to 1992.

“Premieres were part of the sport/OB brief. They also did Wish You Were Here..?, so I worked for the programme countless times too, travelling the world.

“As for stars I met, it was quite a thrill to meet Shirley MacLaine. Also, Tim Dalton when he was playing Bond. I went on the Bond set.

“What particularly stands out is getting to know Princess Diana at this time. I worked with her quite a lot at charity events, met her at social events and, of course, saw her at the Royal Premieres.”

Was it a tough decision to leave ITV for the BBC in 1992? Was it made easier that it was again working with Anne?

“Not a tough decision to leave ITV in 1992 at all.

“Thames TV, which was my base, had lost its franchise, the future was bit uncertain and I suddenly got an offer to work with Anne again. Perfect timing.

“It was terrific to team up again and I loved doing those 600 programmes together at Pebble Mill.

“By the by, Anne and I had stood in for Richard and Judy in the late eighties at the Albert Dock, when they were on holiday.

“Our ratings were mostly neck and neck with ITV, but the powers that be at the BBC decided the shows were too similar, so they took ours off air.

“For the next year-and-a-half, I presented loads of different shows up and down the country for different regions.

How did the job offer come about for Midlands Today and what was it like returning to regional news after 14 years?

“I was approached in the summer of 1997 to cover for holidays at Midlands Today, which came from Pebble Mill.

“I did that for two weeks and then a job offer followed. A one or two-year contract. I started on 6th October, 1997.

“I settled in very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“As you know, regional TV is a very important part of the BBC output. Quite often – in fact more often than not – that half hour between 6.30pm and 7pm is the most watched TV on the whole of British TV, beating all the soaps.

“It’s like jigsaw of all the regions added together. Half a million here, half a million there.”

Finally, did viewers ever confuse you with Nicholas Owen of ITN?

“Yes, occasionally mixed up with the other Nick Owen – but not often.”

 

Personal information

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