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Privacy NoticeWhen she began her career as a political broadcast journalist in a male-dominated landscape, Sophy Ridge was mistaken first for a make-up artist, and then for a weather girl. Fast-forward to now and she’s a key member of Sky News’ political presenting team, alongside fellow female power players Kay Burley and Beth Rigby. The change is happening across the board. The BBC had Laura Kuenssberg fronting its election coverage with Clive Myrie, and Emily Maitlis made her TV news return with a special election night appearance for Channel 4 alongside Krishnan Guru-Murthy. “I’ve been in political journalism for about 10 years and I’ve definitely seen a real change,” says Sophy, 39. “When I first started I remember being mistaken for a make-up artist, and going to the conference and someone, who is a very senior politician now, thinking that I was a weather presenter. It just shows that people were not used to seeing women in political journalism then, but that just would not happen now.”
Sophie Ridge was once mistaken for a make up artist
(Image: Matt Frost/SKY)
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Sophy credits her colleagues and peers for making the change happen and is grateful to Sky colleague Adam Boulton for generously mentoring her. “There have been a lot of really inspiring women,” says Sophy. “At Sky I can think of people like Kay Burley or Beth Rigby, but also elsewhere, we have Laura Kuenssberg, Emily Maitlis and Emma Barnett. It has really changed – so you don’t feel like the only panda at the zoo any more.” Kay and Beth hosted Sky News’ Election Night Live and their team handed over to Sophy Ridge, Sam Coates and Adam Boulton at on Friday, live from Westminster. When it comes to politics, Sophy doesn’t mind admitting she can get a little obsessed. “I’m kind of geeky,” she smiles. “There is a lot of preparation that goes into it.” The general election that first inspired Sophy’s interest in politics was the 1997 vote that saw Tony Blair roar to power. To her, this 2024 election has a similar tone. “I remember it felt like a huge moment,” says Sophy. “And there are lots of comparisons to 1997 as well. The other election that stands out to me was 2010 and the reason these elections stand out in my memory so much is because they were changes of power.”
Sophie Ridge is a political journalist for Sky News
(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
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