Fran unsworth biography

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In this role, Fran was also deputy to the Director of News and Current Affairs.

Fran began her journalistic career in 1980 in BBC Local Radio, joining Radio 1’s Newsbeat. In 2005 she became Head of Newsgathering, running one of the world’s largest newsgathering operations with bureaux across the world. Surprising monikers that are BANNED in other countries, from Sarah to Thomas

This includes being involved in the coming together of the Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew which aired in 2019.

In September 2021 it was announced that Unsworth would leave the BBC in 2022 after 40 years.

Where is Fran Unsworth now?

Fran tends to keep her personal life private so it is unknown when she is doing now.

It's thought she may have retired after leaving the BBC in 2022.

Who plays Fran Unsworth in the Scoop Netflix series?

Fran Unsworth is played by Lia Williams in Scoop.

This isn't her first big role as her most recent work can be see when she played CEO Paula Vennells in ITV's Bates vs the Post Office.

She is also known for her roles in The Capture, The Crown, The Missing and His Dark Materials.

You can also expect to see other famous faces in Scoop.

Gillian Anderson plays the part of Emily Maitlis while Prince Andrew is played by Rufus Sewell.

Billie Piper plays Sam McAlister who wrote the book that the film is based on.

All about Rachel Nickell who was murdered in front of her son Alex Hanscombe

Amanda Thirsk, who is the royal aide who encouraged Prince Andrew to do the interview, is played by Keeley Hawes.

Scoop is available to watch on NetflixCredit: NETflix

The rest of the cast includes:

  • Connor Swindells as Jae Donnelly
  • Romola Garai as Esme Wren
  • Charity Wakefield as Princess Beatrice
  • Theresa Godly as BBC US News Reporter

How to watch Scoop

You will be able to watch Scoop on Netflix from Friday April 5, 2024.

Fans are able to watch the film after it dropped on the streaming platform at 8am.

The film runs for 96 minutes and is rated 12A.

Scoop is based on a book by former Newsnight producer Sam McAlister.

The production gives an insight into what happened behind the scenes when securing the interview between Emily Maitlis and the Duke of York in 2019.

The interview focused on Andrew's relationship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Scoop focuses the women who worked to get the "scoop" of the decade.

Charlotte Everett

Who is Fran Unsworth?

Francesca Unsworth is a Britishjournalist and media executive, who was appointedActingDirector of News at the BBC in 2012 and is a member of the BBC's executive board.

A graduate at the University of Manchester, Unsworthbegan her broadcastingcareer in local radio, working at BBCRadioLeicester and BBCRadio Bristol, beforegoing on to becomeProducer of Radio 1's Newsbeat.

She also worked as a producer on The World At One and PMwhile at Radio 4. Unsworth was appointed Head of Newsgathering in January 2005.

In November 2012, Unsworth was appointedActingDirector of News after the then incumbent, HelenBoadensteppedasidewhile Nick Pollardprepared his report into the BBC's non-coverage of the sexualabuseperpetuated by Jimmy Savile.

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She moved to the BBC's NewsgatheringDepartment in 1993, where she had responsibility for UKdomestic news, and was a producer and editor for the BBC One O'Clock News and the BBC Six O'Clock News.

It also reaches a global audience of 438 million people per week in English and over 40 different Languages.

Fran became Director, News and Current Affairs in January 2018.

She was previously Director, BBC World Service Group, a post to which she was appointed to in December 2014. In 1990 she moved to Radio 4 and was based in Washington as a radioproducer for the networkduring the Gulf crisis of 1990-1991.

Fran left the BBC in March 2022.

Fran is an alumna of Windsor Leadership having participated on the Strategic Leaders Consultation.

Inside Scoop's Fran Unsworth and where the former BBC director is now

SCOOP is one of the most anticipated dramas of the year.

Fran Unsworth played a part in securing the Prince Andrew Newsnight interview but who is she?

Lia Williams is playing Fran UnsworthCredit: ITV

Who is Fran Unsworth?

Fran Unsworth is the former director of BBC News who was involved in the Prince Andrew Newsnight interview.

She was born in Stoke-on-Trent on December 29, 1957.

She has had quite the journalistic career and has held multiple senior roles at the BBC.

Are there illegal baby names?

She spent some time as a network radio producer in Washington D.C. and later joined Radio 4’s The World at One and PM.

Fran was appointed the BBC’s Home News Editor and then, in 2001, Head of Political Programmes.

fran unsworth biography

BBC News reaches over three quarters of adults in the UK each week across television, radio and online. In this role she led the BBC’s global news services – BBC World Service, BBC World News and BBC.com – as well as BBC Monitoring, and she chaired the BBC’s international development charity, BBC Media Action.