Nelson, Wendy

Wendy Nelson was born in Birmingham and began her journalistic career in 1968 through the IPC training scheme in Devon.

She subsequently worked as a news and features writer for two regional newspapers: the Banbury Mail and the Birmingham Evening Mail.

In 1974, Nelson joined BBC Television as a broadcast journalist, producer and director, becoming the first female journalist in the BBC Midlands newsroom.

She appeared on Midlands Today from 1974 to 1976, as well as on BBC TV News and various regional documentaries.

In 1976, she joined the production team of Pebble Mill at One as a producer/director, filming across the United States and in India, remaining with the programme until 1980.

Nelson moved to ITV in 1980, serving as co-presenter and reporter on ATV Today until the station lost its franchise.

She presented its final edition alongside Bob Warman on 31st December 1981, before transitioning to Central Television, the replacement company, where she became the first co-presenter of Central News, again working alongside Warman.

In 1982, Nelson moved behind the camera as editor of West Midlands news, becoming the first woman to head a regional newsroom in the United Kingdom.

She produced the Motor Show Special for the ITV network in 1984 and returned to occasional news presenting in 1987, appearing on late night and early morning bulletins.

Nelson went freelance in 1985, working as a producer, director and presenter for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 until 2008.

She served as managing director of Wendy Nelson Associates from 2004 to 2010 and as a media consultant for Cord International Peace from 2007 to 2012.

She is now known as Wendy Lewis Edwards.

Correspondence

Paul R. Jackson corresponded with Wendy in November 2024.

How did you come to join the BBC? Was broadcasting always an ambition of yours, or did it emerge as a natural progression from print journalism?

“I had always wanted to work for the BBC and was accepted at my third attempt.”

What were the roles you did at BBC Birmingham and is it true you were the first female journalist in the regional newsroom?

“Yes true. I was a regional journalist but fronted/produced/directed a few regional half-hour documentaries.

“I also wrote the BBC Guide to Adventure Play, after producing weekly items on our own Adventure playground at Pebble Mill. HRH Price Phillip wrote the forward as President of the National Playing Fields Association.”

“Later in 1992, I returned to Pebble Mill to work as senior reporter/producer on Good Morning with Anne and Nick. I covered the James Bulger case and his funeral live.”

Did you have an attachment to the London newsroom?

“No, my attachment was to Radio Stoke, where I presented the breakfast show for six months at the time of the Lesley Whittle kidnap case.

“I was also working in the Midlands newsroom at the time of the Birmingham pub bombings.”

What are your memories of colleagues like Tom Coyne, Alan Towers, Kay Alexander and Bob Warman?

“Tom was a distant man, hard to read.

“Alan was a tremendous fun colleague and friend.

“I started at the BBC the same day as Kay and we were good friends.

“Bob and I worked together on screen, but I also freelanced for his production company for some years. He is a charming person and we got on extremely well.”

Can you recall when in 1980 you moved over from the BBC to ITV? Were you headhunted or did you answer an advert?

“I was headhunted, via the agent Paul Vaughan, as the controller of news Terry Johnston was looking for a female co-presenter for ATV Today. Anne Diamond was a reporter at the time.

“I wrote a book about Britain’s first transexual couple The Gender Trap, after filming them for Central News.

“Both were medically proven to be in the wrong bodies and both went through sex change treatment after having their child.

“I also worked as a presenter on a motoring series, motor show specials and Format Five, the regional documentary series.”

Any memories of that final ATV news programme?

“It was chaos! All live and trying to be a party atmosphere, alongside the news.”

Do you have the date when you stopped presenting Central News?

“It was early 1984.”

Was it your decision to move behind the camera into an editorial role and did you enjoy it?

“Yes, it was.

“Mike Hollingsworth was leaving to join breakfast TV and his job became vacant.

“I loved it, although at first it was challenging to be in charge of 40+ staff, mainly men.

“I introduced The Friday Show, Central News live for an hour every Friday, hosted by Chris Tarrant with Jimmy Greaves.

“Guests included Mohammed Ali and Dennis Healey – a wide spectrum.

“I moved to produce the Motor Show Special for ITV Network during 1984, before leaving to have my daughter.”

Did you enjoy returning to present the late bulletins?

“It was tiring, but lucrative!”

What programmes did you work on for various channels from 1985 to 2008?

“Find a Family, recurring series finding homes for children in care (1986 – 1992). It began as regional ITV inserts, then a regional series and a network series – including Christmas Day Special for four years. An idea I originated and series produced/directed.

“First time such a programme had aired anywhere in the world. We worked alongside Social Service departments nationwide, including Northern Ireland; involving them in working, for the first time, cross-county in finding adoption and long-term fostering families for difficult to place children – i.e., disabled, older, autistic, five siblings together etc.

“Viewers responded first by phone banks, set up in every ITV studio and manned by social workers.

“I was mentioned and praised in the House of Commons, via the late Liberal leader David Steel MP and there was coverage by international newspapers.

• Reporter/presenter on Heart of the Country: several series of half-hour programmes for Central TV;
• Researcher on Green and Pleasant Land: countryside major documentary for Channel 4;
• Associate producer for a German TV documentary on the birth of football via West Bromwich Albion;
• Directed Out and About – a series for BBC Bristol and Midlands. Presented by Suzanne Dando and Chris Serle;
• Associate producer on Through the Keyhole for David Frost productions;
• Producer on Star Lives – recurring light entertainment ITV series presented by Carol Vorderman. It won an RTS award for Best Light Entertainment Show.

“I also presented for live cookery shows at the NEC, for Shell, video and voice training for West Midlands Police, West Midlands Psychiatrists.

“I also did corporate work.”

What have you been doing since the last entry in 2012 – enjoying retirement?

“Yes, various PR work pro bono, lots of charity work and local theatrical ventures.”

 

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