Colin Brazier Explained

Colin Brazier
Birth Date:1968 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Nationality:British
Occupation:Television presenter, news presenter
Credits:Sky News
GB News
Children:6

Colin Brazier (born 28 March 1968) is an English retired journalist, [1] having previously worked for GB News between 2021 and 2022, and Sky News between 1997 and 2021. He presented Sky News Today on the channel alongside Jayne Secker from September 2014, alongside other programmes on the channel. Between 2005 and 2011, Brazier presented Saturday Live on the channel. In September 2022, in a shakeup of the GB News schedule, it was announced that his show, Brazier, was to be replaced and Brazier himself was to leave the channel.[2]

Early life

Born in Bradford, Brazier was brought up by his mother, a nurse.[3] In 1985, he was present at the Bradford City stadium fire.[4]

Brazier was born Colin Eshelby, but later changed his surname after becoming estranged from his father. He studied English literature at Cardiff University, where he was also elected to serve for a year as Communications Officer at Cardiff University Students' Union. He then trained as a journalist at The Northern Echo and the Yorkshire Post, and briefly worked at The Observer.

Broadcasting career

Brazier joined Sky News in 1997, where he covered politics, the Royal Family and had several foreign postings, in addition to anchoring studio coverage. He was the first British journalist to enter Iraq with coalition troops during the 2003 invasion, Brazier's documentary, Brothers in Baghdad, was later shortlisted at the 48th Monte-Carlo Television Festival.[5]

In December 2004, Brazier was alleged to have assaulted his producer, Julian Morrison, after an argument following a staff Christmas party in Brussels.[6] Morrison went to hospital, having suffered a broken nose and damaged teeth, and was off work for several days. Brazier was recalled to London following the incident.[6]

Brazier was the first journalist to enter southern Lebanon with Israeli forces in 2006.[7] In 2009 he conducted one of the final interviews given by the dictator Muammar Gaddafi.[8] [9] Brazier wrote an article for the New Statesman discussing his experiences of meeting the dictator at his compound in Libya.[10]

In 2014 he was Sky's sole nominee in the Royal Television Society Awards Presenter of the Year category for his work in Nairobi during the Westgate shopping mall attack[11] and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

In July 2014, following the destruction of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine, Brazier was filmed tampering with the contents of a victim's luggage. Widespread media criticism and calls for Brazier's resignation ensued. Over 100 complaints about Brazier's conduct were submitted to Ofcom.[12] In an article published in The Guardian on 22 July 2014, Brazier apologised and said that his actions were "a serious error of judgment".[13]

In 2015 he reported on events including the Tunisian terror attacks[14] [15] and the Nepal earthquake.[16] [17]

In 2016 he won an International Emmy Award[18] and was nominated for a BAFTA[19] [20] for his coverage of the European migrant crisis.[21]

In February 2021, it was announced that Brazier was leaving Sky News for GB News.[22] On the channel he and Mercy Muroki co-hosted Brazier & Muroki, a daytime "news, interview and debate" programme.[23] [24] In August 2021 it was replaced by a different programme, leaving Brazier's sole presenting role as filling in for Andrew Neil in the 8 pm slot.[25] Following Neil's resignation as a GB News presenter in September 2021, Brazier was given a permanent programme at 8 pm called Brazier.[26] In January 2022, Brazier's 8pm weeknight show was moved to 4-6pm, and the 8pm Monday-Friday slot was filled by a new show, Steyn, hosted by Mark Steyn. His weekly TV show Brazier was also aired via radio on GB News Radio.In September 2022, he was sacked by GB News, during a re-shuffle.[27]

Brazier joined LBC in April 2023 to host late nights Monday to Thursday 10pm-1am, having worked as a cover presenter some weeks prior. Brazier's last show on LBC was on 31 August 2023, when he decided to retire from journalism to study farming, "a 'dream' he has long held", at the Royal Agricultural University.[28]

Personal life

In 1999, Brazier married Joanna Roughton, at the time Reuters Asia editor and then Sky's head of foreign news until 2002, with whom he had six children.[29] In 2017, Brazier and his family were featured on Sky News talking about Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign.[30] Roughton died from breast cancer in July 2018, aged 55.[31] [32]

Brazier is a practising Catholic,[33] and has written articles for the Catholic Herald.[34] He has stated that he is "ill at ease" with modern funeral traditions.[35]

A keen cricketer, Brazier is a member of the Lord's Taverners, a charity which aims to improve the fortunes of underprivileged young cricketers, and has played in fundraising matches for the organisation.[36] He was once seen on-camera during a Sky News broadcast appearing to practise a cover drive.[37]

Brazier's 2013 book Sticking Up For Siblings was based on his experiences as a father of six young children.[38] [39] [40]

He married Olivia Warham at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church in Kensington, London, on 20 June 2024.[41]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Sky News & GB News presenter Colin Brazier joins LBC . 2023-05-10 . On The Radio . 20 April 2023 . en-GB.
  2. Web site: Colin Brazier confirms GB News exit in major shakeup . Kelly . Helen . Daily Express . 2 September 2022 . 1 September 2022.
  3. Web site: Crime fighting in the age of emoting. Brazier. Colin. 16 November 2020. Catholic Herald.
  4. Web site: Sky Man's Memories Of 'Hideous' Bradford Fire. Sky News.
  5. Web site: 48th Monte Carlo Television Festival Press Kit . Monte Carlo Television Festival . https://web.archive.org/web/20160630214942/http://www.tvfestival.com/dan/2015/DOWNLOADS/2008/DP_FTV08_UK.pdf . 30 June 2016.
  6. News: Senior Sky reporter demoted after fight at Christmas party . 18 December 2004 . 3 January 2021 . The Independent.
  7. News: Plunkett . John . Keeping your balance . 15 August 2019 . The Guardian . 4 August 2006.
  8. News: Gaddafi: deal done over IRA victims . 15 August 2019 . Belfast Telegraph. 26 October 2009.
  9. News: Gaddafi Issues Shooting 'Apology' . 15 August 2019 . 4ni.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Brazier . Colin . The Leader will see you in the library . . . . NewStatesman . 15 August 2019 . 5 November 2009.
  11. Web site: Nairobi Mall Shooting: 'A Gigantic Crime Scene' . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/wvnlLCPp8BM . 2021-12-17 . live. YouTube . Sky News . 15 August 2019 . 25 September 2013.
  12. News: Complaints over Sky News MH17 report . 15 August 2019 . BBC News . 21 July 2014.
  13. News: Sky News reporter Colin Brazier apologises for snooping in victims' luggage. 15 August 2019 . The Independent . 22 July 2014.
  14. Web site: With thousands of people heading home early and many more cancelling.... Getty Images.
  15. Web site: With thousands of people heading home early and many more cancelling... . Getty Images . 15 August 2019 . en-gb.
  16. News: Nepal Survivors Risk Death To Retrieve Possessions . 15 August 2019 . Sky News . 29 April 2015.
  17. Web site: Destruction of Sankhu Town . MSN . 15 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190815164825/https://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/other/destruction-of-sankhu-town/vi-BBiTBQj . 15 August 2019 . dead.
  18. Web site: SKY NEWS AND ITN DISPATCHES WIN INTERNATIONAL EMMYS® FOR NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS . International Emmy® Awards . International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . 15 August 2019.
  19. Web site: 2016 Television News Coverage . BAFTA TV Awards . 15 August 2019.
  20. Web site: Bafta TV Awards 2016: the full list of winners . The Telegraph . 15 August 2019 . 30 March 2016.
  21. News: Sky News wins prestigious Emmy award for its refugee crisis coverage . 15 August 2019 . Sky News . 22 September 2016.
  22. Web site: What is GB News? In-depth briefing about Andrew Neil's new channel . Press Gazette . 11 February 2021 . 10 February 2021.
  23. News: Ramachandran . Naman . Discovery-Backed GB News Channel to Launch in June . 15 June 2021 . . 26 May 2021.
  24. Sky News journalist Colin Brazier is joining GB News to anchor a daytime news, interview and debate programme. 1359516110157185033. pressgazette. Press Gazette. 10 February 2021. 16 August 2021.
  25. News: Wilkes . Neil . Patrick Christys to take over from Colin Brazier on GB News . 16 August 2021 . Media Mole . 5 August 2021.
  26. Web site: Andrew Neil resigns from GB News three months after channel's launch. 13 September 2021. BBC News. 13 September 2021.
  27. Web site: GB News presenters Colin Brazier and Alex Phillips axed in 'bloodbath' schedule shake-up. Adam. Sherwin. 1 September 2022. inews.co.uk.
  28. Web site: Colin Brazier leaves journalism after 40 years to study farming . Press Gazette . 25 February 2024.
  29. Web site: On this day 18 years ago, thanks again Mrs B.pic.twitter.com/tzckCE9b7D . Twitter . @colinbraziersky . 11 December 2017 . 15 August 2019.
  30. Web site: Meet the Braziers: Sky News presenter invites 'Ocean Rescue' to breakfast . YouTube . TV Newsroom . 15 August 2019.
  31. Web site: Obituary: Joanna Roughton . THE BARON . 15 August 2019 . 11 July 2018.
  32. News: Sky News host Colin Brazier's wife dies aged 55 . 15 August 2019 . Metro . 6 July 2018.
  33. News: Quinn . Ben . Sky News man asks mourners at wife's funeral to wear black . 15 August 2019 . The Guardian . 23 July 2018.
  34. Web site: A shattering prognosis . Catholic Herald . 15 August 2019 . 1 March 2018.
  35. Web site: Brazier . Colin . Let funerals be sad . The Spectator . 15 August 2019 . 21 July 2018.
  36. Web site: The Lord's Taverners v The Yankee Wanderers Lord's Taverners . www.lordstaverners.org . 15 August 2019 . 16 July 2013.
  37. News: Hilarious moment news presenter is caught practising cricket shot . 15 August 2019 . Evening Standard . 19 January 2017.
  38. News: Is it better for children to have siblings? . BBC News . 21 August 2013 . 15 August 2019.
  39. Web site: Cost of children 'puts off parents' . MSN Money . MSN . https://web.archive.org/web/20140223001057/http://money.uk.msn.com/news/cost-of-children-puts-off-parents . 23 February 2014 . 23 August 2013.
  40. News: Moorhead . Joanna . Children? The more the merrier … . 15 August 2019 . The Guardian . 10 August 2013.
  41. Web site: Brazier . Colin . 20 June 2024 . Today was a good day. . 21 June 2024 . Twitter.