Kirsty Wark

2025-09-21T14:46:36Z

2A00:23C5:C565:3C01:1570:64FF:28AB:580F: corrected grammar

{{Short description|Scottish journalist and television presenter (born 1955)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kirsty Wark
| honorific_suffix = [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh|FRSE]]
| image = Kirsty_wark_podium.jpg
| caption = Wark in 2008
| birthname = Kirsteen Anne Wark
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1955|2|3}}
| birth_place = [[Dumfries]], Scotland
| education = [[Wellington School, Ayr|Wellington School]], [[Ayr]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Edinburgh]]
| occupation = Television journalist
| employer = [[BBC]]
| years_active = 1976–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Alan Clements|1989}}
| children = 2
| credits = ''[[Newsnight]]''
| awards = [[BAFTA Fellowship]] (2025)
}}
'''Kirsteen Anne Wark''' (born 3 February 1955) is a Scottish television presenter and journalist with a long career at the [[BBC]].

Starting on [[BBC Radio Scotland]], where she became a producer, Wark switched to television, presenting [[The Late Show (BBC TV series)|''The Late Show'']] and ''[[Newsnight]]'', as well as hosting her own interview programme and launching a production company. Her activities have included reporting on the [[Pan Am Flight 103|Lockerbie bombings]], hosting a book quiz and encouraging open discussion of [[menopause]]. In ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]'', she qualified as Star Baker.

Wark's powerful, searching interview style and perceived closeness to [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] figures have provoked controversy. She was named journalist of the year by [[BAFTA Scotland]] in 1993 and Best Television Presenter in 1997. She was honoured with the [[BAFTA Fellowship]] at the [[2025 British Academy Television Awards]].

==Early life==
Wark was born in [[Dumfries]], Scotland, to James "Jimmy" Wark, a solicitor, and Roberta Wark, a schoolteacher.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cochrane |first=Kira |date=2014-03-15 |title=Kirsty Wark: Family memories inspired my first novel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/15/kirsty-wark-family-memories-inspired-novel |access-date=2025-04-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> She spent the first few years of her life in [[Castle Douglas]], Kirkcudbrightshire, before moving to [[Kilmarnock]], Ayrshire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-26 |title=BBC star Kirsty Wark: Borders has the 'best' book festival |url=https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/18750969.bbc-star-kirsty-wark-borders-book-festival-the-best/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Peeblesshire News |language=en}}</ref> She has one younger brother.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Interviews by Caroline |date=2014-03-09 |title=Relative Values: Mum's so domesticated she even churns her own butter |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/relative-values-mums-so-domesticated-she-even-churns-her-own-butter-b0l9lp0dhcj |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> Her father served in the Second Battalion of the [[Glasgow Highlanders]] during the [[Second World War]] and was awarded a [[Military Cross]] for heroism during the [[Normandy Landings]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas/2021/12/11/kirsty-wark-cancer-pandemic-anxiety-unbearable/|title=Kirsty Wark: 'Cancer in the pandemic? The anxiety is unbearable'|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=11 December 2021|last1=Gordon|first1=Bryony}}</ref> Wark was educated at Kilmarnock Grammar Primary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tes.com/article.aspx?storycode=313273|title=My Best Teacher;Interview;Kirsty Wark|date=6 September 2015|website=Tes.com|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> and subsequently [[Ayr]]'s independent [[Wellington School, Ayr|Wellington School]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/some-former-pupils-show-the-way-1.324733 |title=Some former pupils show the way |newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |date=6 October 1998 |access-date=2 January 2012}}</ref> She studied history, specifically Scottish Studies, at the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/passedfailed-kirsty-wark-1271229.html |title=PASSED/FAILED: Kirsty Wark |first=Jonathan |last=Sale |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date= 6 March 1997 |access-date=13 April 2019}}</ref>

==Career==
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2022}}
Wark joined the [[BBC]] in 1976 as a graduate researcher for [[BBC Radio Scotland]], before promotion a year later as producer of ''[[Good Morning Scotland]]'' and current affairs programmes.<ref name="ayrshirearts.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.ayrshirearts.com/Spaces/Gallery/Companies/SW%20Galleries%20Association/Take%20Your%20Pick/Take%20Your%20Pick%20Exhibition.html|title=Visual Arts Group|website=Ayrshirarts.com|access-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025750/http://www.ayrshirearts.com/Spaces/Gallery/Companies/SW%20Galleries%20Association/Take%20Your%20Pick/Take%20Your%20Pick%20Exhibition.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Wark switched to television in 1982, producing ''Reporting Scotland'' and the lunchtime political programme ''[[Agenda (BBC Scotland programme)|Agenda]]'' and current affairs series ''Current Account''. She then moved into presenting, fronting ''Reporting Scotland'', ''Seven Days'', ''Left, Right and Centre'' and ''Scottish Questions'' coverage for BBC Scotland,<ref name="ayrshirearts.com"/> before moving to network television as part of the ''[[Breakfast Time (British TV programme)|Breakfast Time]]'' presenting team. In 1988, she was one of the first reporters to cover the [[Pan Am Flight 103|Lockerbie bombings]]. In 1990, Wark demonstrated her distinctive line of questioning in an interview with Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]]. Wark was a presenter on BBC2 arts programme ''[[The Late Show (BBC TV series)|The Late Show]]'' (from 1990 to 1993) and the heritage programme ''[[One Foot in the Past]]''. In the mid-1990s, Wark presented the monthly audience debate programme ''Words with Wark'' (1994–98),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12250295.well-chosen-words-with-wark/ | title=Well chosen words with Wark | date=4 November 1998 }}</ref> In 1999, she presented ''The Kirsty Wark Show'', her own interview programme. Wark has been a presenter on the BBC programme ''Newsnight'' from 1993 to 2024.

During the 1990s, she presented many programmes produced by her production company Wark Clements & Co, including ''Words With Wark'', ''Restless Nation'', ''Building A Nation'' and ''Lives Less Ordinary''.

In 2006, she presented a series of programmes on BBC television about countries on the continent entitled ''Tales from Old Europe''. In June 2006, she interviewed [[Nobel Prize]]-winning playwright [[Harold Pinter]].<ref>{{cite news| url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/5110060.stm| title= Harold Pinter on Newsnight Review | access-date = 10 October 2008| last = Wark| first= Kirsty| date= 23 June 2006| work = Newsnight website| publisher = BBC Two}}</ref> Wark hosted the 10th annual [[Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards]] on 30 November 2007 for [[STV (TV channel)|STV]]. She made a cameo appearance in the 2008 ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "[[The Poison Sky]]". She replaced [[David Baddiel]] as host of the [[BBC Four]] programme ''[[The Book Quiz]]'' in 2008 and hosted a [[BBC Two]] quiz show, ''[[A Question of Genius]]'', which ran from 2009 to 2010. In 2011 she was chosen to host a BBC food quiz show entitled ''A Question of Taste,'' pitting two teams of food fanatics against one another.

Wark participated in the 2011 series of ''[[Celebrity MasterChef]]'', where she reached the final and narrowly lost out to [[Phil Vickery (rugby union)|Phil Vickery]]. On 1 January 2012, Wark appeared in a cameo role as herself in the revival of the BBC's ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]''. In January 2013, she appeared in a special series of ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]'', where she was awarded Star Baker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/kirsty-wark-crowned-top-celebrity-1557990|title=Kirsty Wark crowned star baker after creating 2ft Old Man of Hoy cake for Comic Relief special|first=Heather|last=Greenaway|date=27 January 2013|website=Dailyrecord.co.uk|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> Later that year, she made a cameo appearance in two episodes of ''[[The Politician's Husband]]'' which aired on BBC Two.

Wark has been visible and vocal in the media about her experience of menopause and helped to raise awareness of this aspect of women's health more widely.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-04-15|title='I just coped': Kirsty Wark on breaking the silence about menopause|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/15/menopause-kirsty-wark-breaking-the-silence|access-date=2021-03-14|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In 2017, she made a BBC documentary ''Let's talk about the menopause'' because she felt that women are still "shockingly ill-informed".<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-02-16|title=Kirsty Wark: 'Let's talk about the menopause'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-38905528|access-date=2021-03-14}}</ref>

In 2018, [[Margarita Simonyan]], the [[Russia Today]] (RT) journalist who interviewed the two Russian suspects of the [[poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal]], terminated an interview with Wark. It came after Wark challenged "the manner of the interview" and asked if the interview did not just reinforce the notion that RT was a "propaganda tool of the Russian state". Simonyan said Wark's questions seemed "like typical Western propaganda".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-45517388/skripal-novichok-poisoning-rt-editor-hangs-up-on-newsnight|title=RT editor hangs up on Newsnight|work=BBC News}}</ref>

Since 2020, Wark has presented the [[BBC Radio 4]] series ''[[The Reunion (radio series)|The Reunion]]''. She has also, on occasion, presented ''[[Start the Week]]'' on BBC Radio 4.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://therw.news.blog/2020/05/18/kirsty-wark-to-host-radio-4s-the-reunion/|title=Kirsty Wark to host Radio 4's The Reunion|website=therw.news.blog|date=18 May 2020|access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref>

In 2021, Wark was one of the main presenters of the BBC's election results coverage, alongside [[Huw Edwards]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://localendar.com/elsie?JSP=PublishedCalendar&mode=PUBLISH_PUBLIC&search_type=M1&start_date=05/01/21&calendar_id=460125 | title=Localendar - Free web calendar }}</ref> She presented from Edinburgh with the programme covering results from all the UK elections that took place on Thursday 6 May 2021, including the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]] and local council elections in England.

On 19 October 2023, the BBC announced that Wark would be standing down as presenter of ''Newsnight'' after the next general election.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=Kirsty Wark to leave BBC Newsnight after 30 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67163601 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The next general election was held on 4 July 2024 and Wark’s final day on ''Newsnight'' was Friday 12 July 2024. She presented the show as normal but towards the end of the programme actor [[Alan Cumming]] and [[Nicholas Watt|Nick Watt]] (BBC ''Newsnight'' Political Editor) and others paid tributes to Wark, recognising her 30 years on the show. Tributes were also given from previous colleagues, her family and previous guests.

==Honours and awards==
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2022}}
Wark was named journalist of the year by [[BAFTA Scotland]] in 1993 and Best Television Presenter in 1997. She was also nominated for the prestigious [[Richard Dimbleby Award]] for Best Television Presenter (Factual, Features and News) in the BAFTAS 2000.

She was listed as one of the fifty best-dressed over 50s by ''[[The Guardian]]'' in March 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=The 50 best-dressed over 50s|url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2013/mar/29/50-best-dressed-over-50s|newspaper=The Guardian | location=London|first1=Jess|last1=Cartner-Morley|first2=Helen|last2=Mirren|first3=Arianna|last3=Huffington|first4=Valerie|last4=Amos|date=28 March 2013}}</ref> Wark was elected a Fellow of the [[Royal Society of Edinburgh]]<ref>{{Cite press release|title=RSE Welcomes 60 New Fellows|date=15 February 2017|publisher=[[Royal Society of Edinburgh]]|url=https://www.rse.org.uk/rse-welcomes-60-new-fellows/|access-date=28 March 2017|archive-date=6 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306035001/https://www.rse.org.uk/rse-welcomes-60-new-fellows/|url-status=dead}}</ref> in March 2017.

At the June 2023 Graduation Ceremonies at [[University of St Andrews]], Wark was awarded Doctor of Letters (DLitt), in recognition of her outstanding career in journalism and broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honorary graduates |url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/graduation/honorands/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.st-andrews.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref>

Wark was presented with the [[BAFTA Fellowship]] at the [[2025 British Academy Television Awards]] on 11 May 2025. In a statement accompanying the announcement, BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip said, "I am beyond delighted to present this year's BAFTA Fellowship to Kirsty Wark. Kirsty’s dedication is unwavering when it comes to telling the stories that really matter. Her legacy is unmatched in the world of news and current affairs broadcasting. Her ability to inform and engage her readers, listeners and viewers is truly inspiring. And she does all this with enormous charm and wit. We are thrilled to celebrate her continued and lasting impact on the industry and beyond."<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2yw3yw9jko | title = Kirsty Wark to receive prestigious Bafta fellowship | first = Emma | last = Saunders | date = 24 April 2025 | accessdate = 25 April 2025 | work = [[BBC News]] }}</ref>

==Public controversies==
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2022}}
Wark is regarded as being close to the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Warks-Labour-links-now-Tory.2593441.jp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510102733/http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Warks-Labour-links-now-Tory.2593441.jp |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 May 2011 |title=Wark's Labour links- now Tory leaders demand action by BBC |website=Scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com |date=8 January 2005 |access-date=4 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Vanessa Thorpe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/04/who-would-chair-tv-debates |title=TV debates: So who would chair them? |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=4 November 2013 |location=London |date=4 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/newsfront.aspx?SectionID=8340 |title=Kirsty Wark and Jack McConnell |website=News.scotsman.com |access-date=4 November 2013 |location=Edinburgh}}</ref> [[Donald Dewar]], Scottish Labour politician and former [[First Minister of Scotland]], a close friend, appointed her to the [[Scottish Parliament Building]] Design Selection Panel, which chose [[Enric Miralles]]' design for the new parliament. Questioned by the [[Fraser Inquiry]], set up to investigate the building's cost overruns, she said: "There was no way that we were making a decision on economically the most advantageous tender; you would have ended up with a shed . . . it was [about] getting a building which was the most exciting, innovative building . . ."<ref>{{cite journal| author =Holyrood Inquiry| title =Transcript: Wednesday 26 November 2003 (Morning Session)| url =http://www.holyroodinquiry.org/transcripts_documents/26-11-2003-am/transcript26-11-2003-am.htm| access-date =15 August 2007| archive-date =19 May 2007| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070519140522/http://www.holyroodinquiry.org/transcripts_documents/26-11-2003-am/transcript26-11-2003-am.htm| url-status =dead}}</ref> In 2003, Wark-Clements produced a film on the building, with critics accusing Wark of a conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite news| last =Peterkin| first =T|author2=T. Leonard | title =Dispute over Kirsty Wark evidence on Holyrood| work =News| publisher =The Telegraph| date =28 November 2003| url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/28/nholy28.xml| access-date =15 August 2007 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In January 2005, she invited [[Scottish Labour Party|Labour]] MSP [[Jack McConnell]], then Scotland's First Minister, and his family to stay at her [[Majorca]]n holiday home over the New Year period.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-01-05 |title=Row over Wark's holiday guest |first=Gerard |last=Seenan |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jan/05/media.scotland |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> McConnell, a long-time friend of Wark and husband Clements before holding office, was cleared of any improprieties when the [[Scottish Parliament]]'s Standards Committee deemed he received no financial benefits from the holidays.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-06-07 |title=McConnell cleared in villa report |language=en-GB |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4617377.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=2023-01-16}}</ref> Wark's editor on ''Newsnight'' offered his support, stating "Many people in the media have friends who have gone on to hold office. The important issue is your ability to ask tough questions and that is not a problem with Kirsty Wark or anybody else on the programme."

Wark and Clements were the subject of media coverage regarding his use of Wark's former personal assistant to monitor e-mails covertly at [[RDF Media]] after he left following an acrimonious dispute about a non-compete deal.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/wark-and-husband-investigated-for-data-theft-399169.html | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Wark and husband investigated for data theft | first=Andy | last=McSmith | date=6 November 2007 | access-date=7 May 2010}}</ref>

In June 2007, Wark clashed with Scottish [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Alex Salmond]] in an interview,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnQPptuG8uM|title=Kirsty Wark - Labour Unionist till the bitter end|date=7 June 2007 |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> over his response to a memorandum of understanding between the [[UK Government]] and [[Libya]] regarding prisoner exchanges. Salmond feared that this could include [[Abdelbaset al-Megrahi]], who was convicted by a Scottish court in the Netherlands for the 1988 bombing of [[Pan Am Flight 103]] over [[Lockerbie]].<ref>{{cite news | last =Mulholland | first =H| title =Scottish ministers attack No 10 over Lockerbie bomber| work =Special Reports| publisher =The Guardian| date =8 June 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/Lockerbie/Story/0,,2098528,00.html| access-date =25 September 2007 | location=London}}</ref> The BBC received 120 formal complaints, and issued a public apology to Salmond regretting Wark's "rude and dismissive" tone; Salmond accepted the BBC's apology.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-offers-public-apology-to-salmond-over-rude-and-dismissive-interview-452525.html|title=US|newspaper=[[The Independent]]}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> According to the BBC, viewers questioned the premise of the interview and that Wark's line of questioning was too aggressive and therefore discourteous.<ref name=Salmond>{{cite web| last =Barron| first =P.| title =That Salmond interview| work =The Editors| publisher =BBC| date =8 June 2007| url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2007/06/that_salmond_interview.html| access-date =25 September 2007}}</ref> According to ''Newsnight'' editor [[Peter Barron]], time constraints forced Wark to end the questioning abruptly, leading him to perceive her behaviour as "rude and dismissive".<ref name=Salmond />

In October 2013, Wark interviewed ''Guardian'' journalist [[Glenn Greenwald]] about his reporting of the [[NSA]] and [[GCHQ]] cyber-spying programs leaked by [[Edward Snowden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-moGtQFvsVU |title=Glenn Greenwald trashes GCHQ/NSA apologists Kirsty Wark, Pauline Neville-Jones (3 October 2013) |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=4 November 2013}}</ref> The interview was seen as openly hostile in which "Wark unabashedly made the case for the prosecution, interrogating Greenwald about his reporting and Edward Snowden."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/glenn-greenwald-newsnight-bbc-kirsty-wark_n_4043015.html |title=Glenn Greenwald Faces Off With 'Newsnight' Interviewer in Hostile Clash (VIDEO) |website=Huffingtonpost.com |access-date=4 November 2013 |first=Jack |last=Mirkinson |date=4 October 2013}}</ref> Greenwald later wrote that Wark and other journalists have focused "almost entirely on the process questions surrounding the reporting rather than the substance of the revelations" about NSA surveillance and privacy invasions "and in the process made some quite dubious claims that come straight from the mouths of government officials".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/04/nsa-reporting-about-journalism |title=The NSA debate is as much about journalism as surveillance | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free |website=Theguardian.com |date=4 October 2013 |access-date=4 November 2013}}</ref>

On 3 November 2016, [[Andrew Rosindell]], a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP, argued in an [[early day motion]] for a return to the broadcasting of the [[God Save the Queen|national anthem (named "God Save the Queen")]] at the end of [[BBC One]] transmissions each day (The practice was dropped in 1997, ostensibly due to BBC One adopting 24-hour broadcasting by simulcasting [[BBC News (British TV channel)|BBC News 24]] overnight, rendering [[closedown]] obsolete),<ref>{{cite news|last=Hughes|first=Laura|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/03/tory-mp-calls-for-bbc-1-to-mark-brexit-with-national-anthem-at-t/|title=Tory MP calls for BBC 1 to mark Brexit with national anthem at the end of each day|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 November 2016|access-date=3 November 2016}}</ref> to commemorate the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|Brexit vote]] and [[Brexit|Britain's subsequent withdrawing]] from the [[European Union]]. At the evening of the same day, [[BBC Two]]'s ''[[Newsnight]]'' programme ended its nightly broadcast with that night's host Wark saying that they were "incredibly happy to oblige" Rosindell's request, and then played a clip of the Sex Pistols' [[God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols song)|similarly named song]], much to Rosindell's discontent.<ref name="metro-gstq-troll">{{cite news | url = http://metro.co.uk/2016/11/04/bbc-just-trolled-a-conservative-mp-brilliantly-with-god-save-the-queen-6234486/ | title = BBC just trolled a conservative MP brilliantly with God Save the Queen | first = Simon | last = Robb | newspaper = [[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] | date = 4 November 2016 | access-date = 4 November 2016}}</ref>

Wark attracted further controversy in relation to Alex Salmond in 2020. She presented a documentary about Salmond's [[HM Advocate v Salmond|trial]] on sexual assault charges, for which he was acquitted. The documentary aired several months after the end of the trial and featured both supporters and detractors of Alex Salmond reflecting on the case. Some of the women who accused Salmond spoke about the case for the first time. The programme received over 900 complaints from those who believed it was biased against Salmond. The BBC said that the outcome of the trial was "fairly reflected in the programme", with the programme aiming to look at the wider political consequences of the case rather than rerunning Salmond's trial. The BBC also said that Salmond had been asked to take part in the programme but had refused. The BBC said the programme contained [[Jim Sillars]] and [[Kenny MacAskill]], who were supporters of Salmond.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaint/thetrialofalexsalmond |title=The Trial of Alex Salmond, BBC Two, 18 August 2020 |access-date=10 September 2020 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819195441/https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaint/thetrialofalexsalmond |url-status=dead }}</ref> A later news story said that Salmond was considering taking legal action against the BBC, and possibly against Wark.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18670265.alex-salmond-to-sue-bbc-documentary-sexual-assault-trial/ |title=Alex Salmond 'to sue BBC' over documentary on sexual assault trial, The National, 23 August 2020|date=23 August 2020 }}</ref>

In October 2023 Wark was widely criticized when she interviewed [[Husam Zomlot]], the head of the [[Embassy of Palestine, London|Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom]], a politician with no ties whatsoever to [[Hamas]]. Zomlot described how six of his family members had been killed by Israeli airstrikes on the [[Gaza Strip]] during the [[Gaza war]]. Wark reacted this way: “I’m sorry for your own personal loss. I mean, can I just be clear, though, you cannot condone the killing of civilians in Israel, can you?”<ref>{{Citation |title=Palestinian Politician Gets Browbeaten After He Describes The Loss Of His Relatives! | date=10 October 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK4OgO-bXdI |access-date=2023-10-15 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mirkinson |first=Jack |date=2023-10-13 |title=A Reminder to the Media: Palestinian Lives Matter Too |language=en-US |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/world/us-media-treats-palestinian-lives-as-expendable/ |access-date=2023-10-15 |issn=0027-8378}}</ref>

==Books==
Wark has written two novels, ''The Legacy Of Elizabeth Pringle'' and ''The House By The Loch''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/27/legacy-elizabeth-pringle-kirsty-wark-review|title=The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle review – Kirsty Wark's first novel gleams with beauty|first=Stevie|last=Davies|date=27 March 2014|website=Theguardian.com|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2022}}
Wark married television producer Alan Clements (born 1961) on 30 September 1989,<ref>{{cite news |url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rDNAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5367%2C32324 |title=Match of the day |newspaper=[[The Glasgow Herald]] |date= 2 October 1989 |page=3 |access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=kirsty wark married |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1989-09-29/1989-09-30?basicsearch=kirsty%20wark%20married&exactsearch=false&retrievecountrycounts=false}}</ref> after meeting him on the BBC Scotland programme ''Left, Right, and Centre''. They have a daughter (born November 1990) and a son (born March 1992).<ref>{{Cite web |title= kirsty wark baby|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1990-11-01/1990-11-30?basicsearch=kirsty%20wark%20baby&somesearch=kirsty%20wark%20baby&exactsearch=false&retrievecountrycounts=false}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= kirsty wark baby|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1992-03-01/1992-03-31?basicsearch=kirsty%20wark%20baby&somesearch=kirsty%20wark%20baby&exactsearch=false&retrievecountrycounts=false}}</ref> She lives in [[Kelvinside]], [[Glasgow]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=pounds 25k for wooden garage. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/pounds+25k+for+wooden+garage.-a0137336232 |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref> She previously owned a holiday home in [[Alaró|Alaro]], Majorca, for 17 years but sold it in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicol |first=Interview by Patricia |date=2015-02-15 |title=Kirsty Wark |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/kirsty-wark-f3dd8vtrwn0 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Myskow |first=Nina |date=2019-08-16 |title=Kirsty Wark: 'Families are imperfect. So much is unspoken' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/kirsty-wark-interview-families-are-imperfect-so-much-is-unspoken-5lzg3jqm2 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> Wark and Clements founded independent TV production company Wark-Clements in 1990, which in May 2004 was merged with fellow Scots broadcaster [[Muriel Gray]]'s Ideal World to form IWC Media. In December 2005, Wark and Gray severed their connections with IWC Media after [[RDF Media]] bought the company.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0912285}}
*{{cite news|last=Burrell |first=Ian |title=Kirsty Wark: Woman of substance answers back |work=Media |publisher=The Independent (London) |date=25 September 2007 |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article2991272.ece |access-date=25 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022052507/http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article2991272.ece |archive-date=22 October 2007 }}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111005054701/http://www.kbjmgt.co.uk/clients/28-kirsty-wark Biography at her agent's website]}}
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/3094315.stm Wark's BBC Profile]
* [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jan/09/bbc.scottishparliament ''Observer'' profile January 9 2005]
* [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/01/09/do0910.xml ''Telegraph'' profile January 9 2005]{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wark, Kirsty}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Stirling]]
[[Category:BAFTA fellows]]
[[Category:BBC Scotland newsreaders and journalists]]
[[Category:British women television journalists]]
[[Category:People educated at Wellington School, Ayr]]
[[Category:People from Dumfries]]
[[Category:Scottish businesspeople]]
[[Category:Scottish feminists]]
[[Category:Scottish radio presenters]]
[[Category:Scottish television presenters]]
[[Category:Scottish women in business]]
[[Category:Scottish women radio presenters]]
[[Category:Scottish women television presenters]]

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Kirsty Wark