Biographies

Presenter, Spotlight

Victoria Graham became co-presenter of BBC South West's regional news programme, Spotlight, in January 2006.

As well presenting the 6.30pm programme she also fronts the 8.00pm and the 10.25pm bulletins on BBC One South West.

She says: "Apart from presenting I love to get out of the studio to our wonderful county shows and various festivals and celebrations around the region. Talking to our viewers is one of the most important parts of the job and it's great to meet the people who make the South West tick."

Victoria's dog Grizzle also appears on Spotlight from time to time and, she says, is more recognised than she is.

She loves to walk and considers her greatest achievement gaining her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Born in Scunthorpe, Victoria went to university in York and graduated in 1994 with a BA (Hons) degree in Drama, Film and Television and Combined Social Sciences.

After graduating her first job was at Yorkshire Television in Leeds where she trained as a presentation director.

In 1997 Victoria started work for The Weather Channel, training in Atlanta, USA, and then became a presenter for the channel in their London studios.

From there she became a broadcast meteorologist for the Met Office and was a presenter for the BBC across all channels for four years.

Victoria says: "After presenting the weather for a while I fancied a change. I started presenting for a shopping channel and then set up my own business providing corporate presentations, television and radio news reporting, and training others in presentation skills."

In 2006 she followed the annual Ten Tors event for Spotlight by camping out and shadowing groups of children as they tackled the expedition. But poor weather conditions brought the event to an abrupt close. As a result Victoria broadcast live from the moors for BBC News throughout the day.

Victoria explains: "It was so wet the event was called off halfway through. Thousands of youngsters had to be airlifted off the moors in atrocious weather conditions.

"I hadn't had a bath for three days and hadn't really slept as I was sharing a tent with Grizzle. So I didn't look my best for the camera, but I certainly looked the part!"

Victoria married BBC News presenter Simon McCoy in September 2007.