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I glimpsed my own reality and it came home to me that maybe it was time for a change of direction. I wanted to settle down and have kids taking its toll on Jayne’s health, mentally and physically. “I was in Gaza and there was a bomb blast right next to us, I had to run for cover and dived behind a wall, breaking my leg. I had never felt vulnerable before, never been that close to a bomb. “I glimpsed my own reality and it came home to me that maybe it was time for a change of direction. I wanted to settle down and have kids.” Jayne suffered from PTSD after her experiences and had counselling to deal with the trauma. After time out she returned to the presenting role on Sky’s morning news programme and the Week in Review show. By no means a soft option, the rolling news programme offered Jayne the adrenaline kick she thrives on. And the ability to take a moment for her boys’ nativity. She conducted the first interview that was broadcast live on television with Tim Peake from the International Space Station. Jayne also helped anchor Sky News’
coverage of numerous general elections and the Brexit referendum. She was live as the result was announced in Manchester and hosted a live studio debate bringing together those who voted for either leave or remain. She also anchored Sky’s coverage of Theresa May meeting the Queen and becoming Prime Minister. “It can be a lot more nerve-wracking live in studio”, says Jayne. “You can get an adrenaline rush as quickly as you do when you’re under fire. You have to be verbally sharp and switched-on. “When the Bastille Day attacks happened in Nice we were reporting live from 6am for fourteen hours solid, until 8pm. It was amazing to be the first British broadcasters there – but that happens with Sky a lot.” There are moments too when she is at the mercy of the huge television audience thanks to a vociferous social media following: “Viewers are forgiving but they don’t think twice about tweeting Sky about my outfit!” And they took to Twitter with a vengeance
following Jayne’s grilling of Bob Geldof in an interview about the Band Aid 30 single. Geldof responded to Jayne’s comment that the single had been criticised by charities working in Africa with “B…….ks”, the second time he’d used the word on-air. There was no option but to end the interview and a predictable social media furore ensued: “I got a lot of people saying ‘how dare you criticise Saint Bob?’”, says Jayne. “But it was a legitimate question and I was hoping he would give me an answer – I got a huge amount of grief on Twitter. “But it means people are watching and engaging! I’ve got the hide of a rhino and it’s my job to be devil’s advocate and challenge people on their point of view.” Skills which make up that impressive CV, but Jayne remains the North East girl at heart – still chuffed to bits to be asked to follow in mum’s footsteps presenting the RTS awards in Newcastle. And to take on Kathy’s charity role. Grace
House is the purpose-built respite centre that was founded in Sunderland by Kathy. It opened just a few months after her death and is a fine legacy to her. “She was very much the driving force behind it – raising £5.5 million to get it up and running”, says Jayne, who attended the opening with her brother and family. “She came up with the idea but never saw it fully opened. There’s a tree planted for her in the garden – that place, to look after children, to give families a breather, really was a dream come true for mum, I am dead proud of her. “After she died I had to think, she got to 70, had a great life, two children and grandchildren, was a super mum – she would be chuffed with that.”
Reporting on Michael Jackson trial - 2005. Jayne lived out in California for the duration.
On the Amazon reporting on illegal logging.
www.gracehouse.co.uk Tickets for the Royal Television Society regional awards on February 25 at Hilton, NewcastleGateshead available at www.rts.org.uk
Front line: and we’re live from...
In the Gaza strip in 2005. This was when Israel pulled out of the territory.
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In Liberia in 2009 - reporting on child mortality.
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