Kirsty Gallacher

Kirsty Jane Gallacher[1] (born 20 January 1976)[1] is a British television presenter and model. She began her career at Sky Sports News in 1998 and hosted Kirsty's Home Videos, RI:SE and Simply the Best before returning to Sky Sports News from 2011–2018. From June 2021 until December 2021, Gallacher co-presented The Great British Breakfast on the news channel GB News.[2]

Kirsty Gallacher
Gallacher in 2014
Born
Kirsty Jane Gallacher

(1976-01-20) 20 January 1976
Edinburgh, UK
EducationSt. George's School England
London College of Fashion
OccupationTelevision presenter
Years active1998–present
Known forSky Sports News
RI:SE
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
Gladiators (2008)
GB News
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2010; div. 2015)​
Children2
Parent(s)Bernard Gallacher
Lesley Gallacher
RelativesStephen Gallacher (cousin)
Russell Brand (brother-in-law)

Early life

The daughter of Bernard Gallacher, a professional golfer and Ryder Cup captain, and Lesley Gallacher, Kirsty Gallacher was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.[1][3] When her father got the job of professional at Wentworth Golf Club, they moved south to Virginia Water, England, when she was 18 months old. Gallacher and her younger brother and sister were raised on the Wentworth Estate, where their close neighbours included Bruce Forsyth.[4] She was educated at Coworth Flexlands and St George's School in Ascot, Berkshire.[5]

Career

Approached by Mark Sharman, then deputy head of sport at Sky, at a Ryder Cup dinner,[6] she began working as a production assistant in 1996, before moving on to the position of editorial assistant on Sky Sports.

She got her presenting break on Sky Sports News in 1998,[7] and since then has been associated with many other sports shows such as 90 Minutes, Soccer Extra, Kirsty and Phil (on BBC Radio 5 Live) and Soccer AM.[8]

From 2000 until 2004, Gallacher hosted the Sky One show Kirsty's Home Videos, a satellite equivalent of ITV's You've Been Framed! in which viewers send in home videos to be screened.[8] In 2002, she presented the morning show RI:SE, and in 2004 began the show Simply the Best.[8] Gallacher presented the All Star Cup on Sky1 in 2005 and on ITV in 2006. She has made guest appearances on They Think It's All Over and A Question of Sport. Gallacher presented Ant vs Dec – the popular strand on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.[9]

In 2005, Gallacher won the third series of the popular Channel 4 reality television series The Games. She then presented the following years alongside Jamie Theakston.[8] In December 2005, she released a DVD entitled Body Sculpt with Kirsty Gallacher in which she shows a variety of workouts. In July 2006, she co-presented the BBC reality TV show Only Fools on Horses.

In 2008, Gallacher presented the new version of Gladiators on Sky One alongside Ian Wright.[10] She did not return for the second series.

On 30 August 2008, Gallacher appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with Duncan Bannatyne.

She has also guest presented GMTV with Lorraine in August 2010 for two weeks and Lorraine on ITV Breakfast.[11]

In May 2011, Gallacher returned to Sky Sports to present for Sky Sports News.[12][13]

On 27 August 2015, it was confirmed that Gallacher would be taking part in the 2015 series of Strictly Come Dancing.[14] On 5 September 2015, it was announced Gallacher would be paired with professional dancer Brendan Cole for the series.[15] The couple were eliminated on week 6; finishing eleventh.[16]

In May 2018, it was announced Gallacher was leaving Sky Sports.[17][18]

On 29 March 2021, it was announced that Gallacher would be joining GB News to present a breakfast programme on the channel.[19] Gallacher left GB News in December 2021 after discovering she had a benign tumour in her inner ear canal which was causing Tinnitus and she said that the early starts for the news channel were exacerbating her symptoms.[20]

On 3 April 2021, she hosted for the first time on Smooth Radio, starting at 4:00 pm BST.[21]

Awards and nominations

Gallacher was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Royal Television Society Television Sports Awards in 1998.[22] She won Satellite/Digital TV Personality at the 2002 Television and Radio Industries Club Awards,[23] and Kirsty's Home Videos won her the following year's Satellite/Digital Programme award in 2003.[24] She also won a "Platinum Award" for Best Entertainment Programme at the 2002 Houston International Film Festival.[25]

Personal life

Gallacher is the cousin of golfer Stephen Gallacher. At the end of February 2013 she was named patron of Hibernian Women.[26]

Gallacher married rugby player Paul Sampson in 2010, with whom she has two sons. The couple split in 2015.[27]

Her sister Laura Gallacher is married to Russell Brand.[28]

In April 2023, Gallacher completed the London Marathon in 5 hours, 35 minutes and 35 seconds; she last ran the race in 2019.[29]

References
  1. "Kirsty Gallacher – Strictly Come Dancing profile". Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One). Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2017. Kirsty Jane Gallacher was born in Edinburgh on January 20th 1976.
  2. Tinson, Emma (22 May 2021). "GB News to take on BBC Breakfast and GMB with the Great British Breakfast". Daily Express.
  3. Howarth, Angus (19 July 2017). "TV star Kirsty Gallacher turns back on Scotland to support England". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  4. Greenstreet, Rosanna (13 July 2008). "Time and place: Kirsty Gallacher". London: The Sunday Times.
  5. "Star Kirsty Gallagher Lights Up Sunningdale for Christmas". Weybridge, Surrey: Ascot Matters. November 2016. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  6. As told to Mark King (2 March 2012). "Kirsty Gallacher: my Saturday job | Money". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  7. Interview by John Hall (8 July 2010). "A Quick Chat With: Kirsty Gallacher – Profiles – People". The Independent. London. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  8. Morris, Sophie (5 May 2008). "My Life in Media: Kirsty Gallacher". London: The Independent. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  9. Alexander, Hilary (16 November 2009). "Kirsty Gallacher models the new M2B maternity range from Mothercare". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  10. Leigh Holmwood (12 March 2008). "Ian Wright and Kirsty Gallacher to front Gladiators on Sky | Media". theguardian.com. London. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  11. "The best of A/W 2010 with Kirsty Gallacher – 3am & Mirror Online". Mirror.co.uk. 5 September 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  12. "Kirsty Gallacher returning to Sky Sports". Evening Standard. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  13. "Kirsty Gallacher: I don't give a monkey's if people think I got the job because of my looks." Daily Mirror. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  14. "Sky Sports News presenter Kirsty Gallacher joins Strictly line-up". The Guardian. 27 August 2015.
  15. Cains, Eleanor (5 September 2015). "Strictly Come Dancing 2015: Peter Andre's The One To Beat, As Ola Jordan Responds To 'Lies'". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  16. The Daily Telegraph
  17. "Kirsty Gallacher quits Sky Sports after 20 years". Digital Spy. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  18. "Kirsty Gallacher to leave Sky Sports". Sky Sports. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  19. Butterworth, Benjamin (29 March 2021). "GB News hires presenter and model Kirsty Gallacher to front breakfast show". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  20. "Kirsty Gallacher 'steps down' from GB News after discovering tumour in her ear". irishmirror.ie. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  21. Gallacher, Kirsty [@TheRealKirstyG] (3 April 2021). "Delighted to be taking over my favourite station @SmoothRadio today from 4-7pm, playing the perfect soundtrack to your bank holiday weekend. Go on, pop it on!" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 June 2021 – via Twitter.
  22. "RTS Television Sport Awards 1998". rts.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  23. "2002 TRIC Awards winners". tric.org.uk. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  24. "2003 TRIC Awards winners". tric.org.uk. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  25. "Janet McBride Biography". janetmcbridemedia.co.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  26. "Changing room chat: Dad delighted as Kirsty joins Hibs". The Scotsman. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  27. "Kirsty Gallacher believes she had PTSD during 'devastating' period after divorce". uk.news.yahoo.com. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  28. Agius, Nicola (14 April 2020). "Who is Russell Brand's wife Laura Gallacher and why did he split from Katy Perry?". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  29. "Mark Wright and Kirsty Gallacher lead famous London Marathon finishers – see their times here". ok.co.uk. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
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