Inside Sophie Raworth life - 18 year marriage, idyllic family life and fitness journey

Broadcast journalist Sophie Raworth is starting the New Year at the helm of Sunday Morning BBC's flagship current affairs show.

Formerly known as the Andrew Marr Show, she has been tasked with the interim role after Marr stepped down after more than two decades with the channel.

The new stand in role - is no small shoes to fill - taking over from Marr's legacy as news veteran as he has opt out after 21 years and has joined the New Statesman magazine as its chief political commentator.

And as the BBC hunts for a permanent replacement, Raworth - who has previously covered the role - will broadcast the unchanged format until a replacement is sought.

So with this in mind we take a look at her achievements both on and off screen from rising through the ranks of the BBC to her happy home life and 18 years marriage.

Sophie, 53, started her career in regional journalism as a Beeb trainee in 1992 and went on to report for Greater Manchester Radio. She later moved to Brussels as a BBC Regions correspondent.

Heading home she returned to Leeds and her first presenting role on BBC Look North before being offered a step up to national news and BBC Breakfast News in 1997 as a co-presenter.

Sophie has stepped out of the newsroom for many notable occasions including to broadcaster from the Oscars in Los Angeles, in Washington for Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial, and during a special programme for the Queen’s golden jubilee celebrations in 2002.

She hosted BBC Breakfast alongside Jeremy Bowen from its launch in 2000 and has also presented election night coverage, Watchdog, Crimewatch and the Chelsea flower show.

Outside of her BBC job, a quick look at her enviable Instagram feed shows her other passions are for fiction and a fitness.

Her love of the former saw her called upon to chair the panel of judges for the Costa Book of the Year award.

She has also proved herself to be a keen runner and has taken on numerous marathons for various charities.

In April 2018 the journalist completed an ultra-marathon, the six-day, 251 kilometre Marathon des Sables in the Sahara desert.

She often shares shots of her sporting achievements on Instagram and even took a dip on Boxing Day as Hyde Park.

She captioned the post: "Boxing Day madness. 6 minutes 250 metres 6C @serpentineswimmingclub debut dip."

But it's her home life which has proved a constant source of stability throughout her high-flying career and is happily married to husband Richard Winter.

The two got married on December 13, 2003, at a local church in London. They have gone on to have three children together - Georgia and Ella Rose, and a son, Oliver.

According to the BBC’s list of star salaries from July 2021, Raworth is remunerated with an annual salary of £280,000 - £284,000.

This places her the sixth highest-paid woman on the list, behind Zoe Ball, Fiona Bruce, Lauren Laverne, Vanessa Feltz and Emily Maitlis.

In comparison Andrew Marr’s salary is listed as between £335,000 and £339,999.

The Andrew Marr Show will be retitled – at least temporarily – as Sunday Morning in the New Year, Sophie is set to take over until a permanent replacement is appointed.

The programme will then relaunch with a new presenter, title and a new look.

She will appear on the show on Sunday January 9th at 9am fronting the political show's return after a hiatus for the Christmas break.

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