June Sarpong: Last News

Sir Elton John has joined a string of celebrities sending messages of support to Keir Starmer - and urging the public to vote Labour. The Rocketman singer joins Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington, funnyman Jason Manford and Dragons Den legend Deborah Meaden who also sent their messages of support.

Tess Daly has shared some romantic photos of her wedding to Vernon Kay, as the pair celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.The Strictly Come Dancing presenter, 54, and Vernon, 49, tied the knot back in 2003, and have since welcomed two daughters, Phoebe, 18, and Amber, 13. Marking the special occasion Tess shared some throwback photos of the couple's big day, and a cake celebrating their two decades of marriage.

Newly-single Alison Hammond beamed as she walked the red carpet at the Burberry British Diversity Awards, where she picked up the Media Champion in the Public Eye award.The TV presenter, 48, was handed the award by Paloma Faith during the prestigious event, which was hosted by TV presenter June Sarpong. Posing on the red carpet before heading into the event Alison was all-smiles as she donned a sparkling black midi dress and a pair of flat back and white shoes, which featured a stylish black bow.

Three months ago Love Island fans waved goodbye to show host Laura Whitmore for the final time as she gracefully bowed out of hosting the hit ITV2 dating show. In the weeks that followed, many fans couldn’t resist speculating about who might take over the reins of the show, with several names ranging from this year’s winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, through to former Strictly star AJ Odudu and even The Inbetweeners favourite Emily Atack.

Vernon Kay shocked fans when he revealed an enormous tattoo of a US sports star's face on his back after losing a bet. This Morning host and BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon, who is a huge American football fan, had former National Football League star Eli Manning inked on his back.

Manori Ravindran International Editor When presenter June Sarpong agreed to take on the most public-facing diversity and inclusion role at the BBC in the fall of 2019, the corporation — and indeed the world — was a different place. “I joined when the BBC was just coming out the other side of everything that had happened with [breakfast presenter] Naga Munchetty,” Sarpong tells Variety on her last official day at the BBC, capping off three years as head of creative diversity. “Feelings were heightened.” The U.K. public broadcaster was smarting from a heavy backlash against the attempted censure of Munchetty, who was reprimanded for breaching impartiality guidelines after she criticized, on air, then U.S. President Donald Trump for perceived racism. The decision was overturned by then BBC director general Tony Hall, but only after widespread outcry against the corporation for punishing one of its top hosts for calling out racism, which many felt should be exempt from impartiality rules.

The BBC has unveiled its first Diversity & Inclusion Director, with L’Oréal (UK & Ireland) diversity exec Chinny Okolidoh taking on the role.

Naman Ramachandran Celebrated media diversity and inclusion practitioner Joanna Abeyie is joining the BBC as interim head of creative diversity on a six-month contract.Abeyie will support the BBC’s outgoing director of creative diversity, June Sarpong, and chief content officer, Charlotte Moore, in delivering on-air diversity and inclusion strategies across all BBC output.Abeyie will lead on the planning, development and implementation of initiatives related to on-air talent portrayal, commissioning guidelines, diverse audience panels, monitoring and reporting. She joins at a time when there is an exodus of women of color from the BBC, as revealed by a Variety investigation.

The BBC has hired media diversity specialist Joanna Abeyie on a short-term contract, a day after it emerged the corporation’s diversity chief June Sarpong is to depart later this year.

Naman Ramachandran June Sarpong, director of creative diversity at the BBC, will leave the corporation as her contract expires. A Variety investigation published on Tuesday revealed that at least 15 women of color have left the BBC in the last year. However, Sarpong was not a member of staff, Variety understands.

Sir Keir Starmer, the UK’s opposition Labour Party leader, will tonight urge the screen industries to “speak out in defence of the values of public sector broadcasting against the government’s attacks.”

Debbie McGee will appear alongside radio presenter Dev Griffin, comedian Alex Horne and TV presenter June Sarpong as they test their knowledge in Richard Osman's House of Games.

Naman Ramachandran Disney’s FX Networks is hiring an ombudsman with the title senior vice president of diversity and culture, who will report to CEO John Landgraf.Revealing this during his closing address at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday, where he was in conversation with BBC director of creative diversity June Sarpong, Landgraf said, “We are right on the verge of hiring, what for us will be a senior vice president of diversity and culture who’s going to be an ombudsman, who’s going to be reporting to me, who’s going to be sitting at the table for every single decision we make.”Landgraf’s address capped a week dominated by diversity and inclusion discussions that were part of almost every panel.