Former Olympic athlete Colin Jackson CBE and BBC News journalist Louise Minchin are to present True North’s new Sunday morning show Sunday Life.
The series, which airs for six months from 20th April on BBC One, brings together one of Britain’s most famous Olympic athletes and one of the BBC’s best known news and current affairs presenters.
On ‘Sunday Life’ Colin and Louise will get under the skin of the issues that Britain really cares about, and meet the people at the heart of every news story.
“There are real people at the centre of every story. Sunday Life will pose the questions thrown up by those stories, and find answers to them. The show is about understanding the ways people are affected by our changing world” - Colin Jackson
“I’m really interested in the moral decisions we all face - how do we make those decisions and how do we ensure they’re the right ones? On Sunday Life we’ll investigate the issues that people in Britain think are important.” - Louise Minchin
Together, Louise and Colin will present ‘Sunday Life’ live from the show’s own converted Victorian warehouse on the outskirts of Bradford – the heart of multicultural Britain.
Colin Jackson CBE is one of Britain’s most admired and loved personalities. The two-time Olympic athlete and world record holder retired from athletics in 2003 and has since enjoyed a number of TV successes, including 2nd place on the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. ‘Sunday Life’ is a new chapter in Colin’s TV career, and one that will enable him to explore his spiritual side.
“I constantly question the decisions I make as a human being, and that helps me appreciate the spiritual benefits of all religions. I think there are a lot of people like me who are deeply spiritual but might not take part in organised religion." - Colin Jackson
Louise Minchin is one of the faces of BBC News 24. On BBC One she regularly presents The One O’Clock News, BBC Breakfast, and the weekend Ten O’Clock News.
As a journalist, Louise believes that presenting ‘Sunday Life’ will give her a unique opportunity to get to the bottom of the news stories she’s so used to reporting.
“Sunday Life is about the people affected by the news. I really want to look behind the stories that I report on every day, so we can understand how those stories happened and how people’s lives are changed as a result.” - Louise Minchin
And she’s also excited about working side by side with one of the most famous British athletes of all time.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Colin. He’s a superstar with amazing enthusiasm (and I’m hoping I’ll get a few dancing lessons thrown in too!)” - Louise Minchin
Sunday Life Executive Producer and True North Director Andrew Sheldon said “It’s great to be working with Louise and Colin. They’re such a strong and professional team and come across brilliantly on camera…though with the rate that they talk, the guests might have problems getting a word in!”