Born on October 8, 1957, in Dublin, Ireland, Martha Catherine Kearney is a British-Irish journalist and broadcaster. Currently employed by the BBC, she serves as the presenter of the early morning Today programme and previously held the position of main presenter for BBC Radio 4’s lunchtime news programme. Kearney’s earlier roles include working as a reporter for A Week in Politics on Channel 4, as well as serving as a reporter and correspondent on the AM programme.

On October 8, 1957, in Dublin, Ireland, Kearney came into the world.

Growing up, Kearney was immersed in an academic milieu, as her father, historian Hugh Kearney, imparted knowledge at several universities. Kearney’s educational journey took her through St Joseph’s Catholic School in Sussex, Brighton and Hove High School, and George Watson’s Ladies College in Edinburgh. Subsequently, she pursued a degree in classics at St Anne’s College, Oxford, completing her studies and graduating in 1980.

Martha’s parents are Catherine (Kate) Murphy and Hugh Francis Kearney. Her father, a distinguished British historian, held the title of Amundson Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh. Kearney pursued History at Peterhouse, Cambridge, during the 1940s. It was during his tenure teaching at University College Dublin that he crossed paths with his wife, who was then an undergraduate student. Notably, he authored the acclaimed work “The British Isles: A History of Four Nations.” Hugh Francis Kearney passed away on October 1, 2017. Martha grew up alongside her two brothers, Jamie Kearney and Peter Kearney.

Kearney is married to Chris Shaw, who holds the position of editorial director at ITN. Previously, Shaw served as a Senior Programme Controller for Channel Five, as well as a Programme Editor for News at Ten, Home and Foreign News Editor for Channel 4 News, and Launch Editor of the Big Breakfast News. He is also recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and holds the role of Director at the Edinburgh TV Festival. Additionally, Shaw is a frequentmedia commentator across prominent press and broadcast platforms. The couple first crossed paths during their time at Oxford University and tied the knot in 2001.

Kearney’s journalism journey commenced at the London commercial radio station LBC and Independent Radio News, where she initially worked as a phone operator on phone-in programs before transitioning to become a political correspondent, covering the 1987 general election. In 1988, she made a move to Channel 4’s A Week in Politics as a reporter, subsequently joining the BBC’s political program On the Record in 1990. Over the years, Kearney held various prominent roles at the BBC, notably becoming a regular presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour in 1998 and later assuming the position of political editor for BBC Two’s Newsnight program in 2000. Kearney’s contributions to Newsnight Review and her candidacy for the BBC’s political editor position in 2005 further underscore her impact in the field. She has received recognition for her journalistic endeavors, earning nominations and awards such as a BAFTA nomination for her coverage of the Northern Ireland peace process in 1998, the TRIC radio presenter of the year award in 2004, and a Sony bronze award for a program addressing child poverty.

Beyond her broadcasting career, Kearney has been engaged in various other activities. This includes serving as a judge for prestigious literary prizes such as the Baillie Gifford Prize. Additionally, she chaired the judging panel for the 2020 Baillie Gifford Prize. Kearney’s diverse interests extend to beekeeping, a passion she has pursued outside of her professional pursuits, leading her to present several BBC documentaries focused on bees and nature. In April 2018, Kearney reached another significant milestone in her broadcasting career by joining BBC Radio 4’s Today program as a main presenter. Her wide-ranging interests and substantial contributions to journalism and broadcasting have solidified her reputation as a highly respected journalist.