Polly Evans is a journalist, broadcaster, TV & Audio producer, and former

anchor An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, used to secure a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ', which itself comes from the Greek (). Anch ...

of the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

regional news programme ''

South East Today ''BBC South East Today'' is the BBC South East regional television news programme, serving Kent, East Sussex, part of West Sussex and a small part of Surrey. Prior to its launch on 3 September 2001, most of the viewers in the region received '' ...

''.

Career

Evans started broadcasting while studying at the

University of Leeds The University of Leeds is a public research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884, it merged with the Leeds School of Medicine (established 1831) and was renamed Y ...

, working early morning shifts on the campus radio station. She then went to Cardiff Journalism School at Cardiff University to do a post-graduate diploma and later, travelled to post-war

Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

to make a film about a new impartial television station for the country. After working in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

as an English teacher during a gap year, Evans joined

BBC Radio Wales BBC Radio Wales is a Wales, Welsh national radio station owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It began broadcasting on 13 November 1978, replacing the Welsh opt-out service of BBC Radio 4. As of August 2022, the stat ...

' features department, developing and producing networked programming for

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...

. She later joined the BBC Wales newsroom as a reporter and newsreader, before moving to

BBC Radio Devon BBC Radio Devon is the BBC's local radio station serving the county of Devon. It broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds from studios in the Mannamead area of Plymouth. According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of ...

in Plymouth a year later. She then transferred to television as a reporter and presenter for ''

Spotlight Spotlight or spot light may refer to: Lighting * Spot light, an articulating automotive auxiliary lamp * Spotlight (theatre lighting) * Spotlight, a searchlight * Stage lighting instrument, stage lighting instruments, of several types Art, ent ...

'' and ''The

Politics Show ''Politics Show'' is an hour-long BBC One television political programme which was broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sundays between 2003 and 2011, broadcasting usually at midday. ''Politics Show'' was superseded by '' Sunday Politics'', a week ...

'' in the South West. Evans joined ''

'' before the 2005 general election. In September 2009, she became a main presenter alongside Rob Smith, replacing Geoff Clark and Beverley Thompson. The show was named Best Nations and Regions news programme twice at the national Royal Television Society Awards while Evans and Rob Smith were the anchors. During this time she also worked for the BBC Newschannel and BBC 5 Live as a reporter and newsreader. In 2017, Evans transferred from presenting to producing ''South East Today'', joining the programme's editorial staff, during which time she oversaw TV news coverage of the General Election in the region. She also worked on attachment as Social Affairs Correspondent. Evans left the BBC in Autumn 2019. She is now the Head of Communications & Digital for The Access Project, a charity which helps bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds gain access to top Universities. She now oversees UK audio production for tonies, the largest interactive audio platform for kids worldwide. In May 2023 she appeared on the

programme ''Life Changing'' and explained that her career change had been brought about by adductor spasmodic dysphonia.

Personal life

Evans is married with two daughters. Aside from her broadcasting work, she has presented the Learn Direct Achievement Awards, The EDF Energy Awards for Journalism and the FSB’s Brexit debate. She has also been a guest presenter of Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artist competition and a guest judge for the Culture Awards. She is a Trustee of the charity Care for the Carers.

References

External links

Polly Evans twitter account
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Polly Living people People associated with the University of Leeds English television presenters Year of birth missing (living people)