Edward Stourton | |
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Born |
Edward John Ivo Stourton 24 November 1957 Lagos, British Nigeria |
Residence | , London |
Nationality | British |
Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Occupation | Broadcaster, journalist, presenter |
Years active | 1979–present |
Employer |
ITN BBC |
Spouse(s) | Margaret McEwen (1980–?; divorced) Fiona Murch (2002–present) |
Children | 4 |
Edward John Ivo Stourton (born 24 November 1957) is a BBC broadcaster and presenter of the BBC Radio 4 programme Sunday, and a frequent contributor to the Today programme, where for ten years he was one of the main presenters. He is the author of six books, most recently Cruel Crossing: Escaping Hitler Across the Pyrenees.
Stourton was born in the then British colony of Nigeria as his father was based there and educated at the now defunct Roman Catholic Prep School Avisford in Walberton and at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire. He was head boy in his final year at both establishments. While at Ampleforth he befriended future High Court judge Nicholas Mostyn, who was also the son of a Nigerian-based BAT executive. The duo won the national ESU Schools Mace debating prize in 1975. He read English literature at Trinity College, Cambridge, gaining a 2:1. He served as president of the Cambridge Union Society and editor of the student magazine Rampage.
He joined the staff of ITN in 1979 as a graduate trainee. While working there he was a founder member of Channel 4 News in 1982 working predominantly as a copy writer but also as a producer, duty home news editor and chief sub-editor. Stourton joined the BBC in 1988 as a Paris correspondent. He returned to ITN as a diplomatic editor in 1990. In 1993, he was back at the BBC as the presenter of BBC One O'Clock News for six years. He presented editions of Assignment, Correspondent, Panorama and Call Ed Stourton, a phone-in programme on Radio 4.