Steph McGovern's life off-screen from show axe to private girlfriend

Steph McGovern, the popular TV presenter known for her work on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch and BBC Breakfast, has recently swapped her microphone for a backpack in Netflix's latest survival challenge, Celebrity Bear Hunt.

The new series, available to stream now, features a group of celebrities battling against renowned adventurer Bear Grylls in the Costa Rican jungle. They must evade capture through a series of challenging tasks.

During filming, Steph experienced a terrifying incident where she hit her face on a sharp cliff edge, with medics rushing to her aid as she hung from her harness, blood dripping from her face.

As Steph faces the challenges in Costa Rica, here's everything you need to know about the beloved TV presenter.

Childhood

Steph was born in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, in 1982 but was raised in Middlesbrough. Her father, Eamonn, is a professional artist.

Following in her father's creative footsteps, Steph won an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship during her sixth form years, where she studied maths, physics, design technology, and business studies. After winning a Young Engineer for Britain award, Steph took a gap year in the industry before studying mechanical engineering at Imperial College London.

She later attended University College London, earning a degree in science communication and policy. In 2013, Teesside University awarded her an honorary doctorate, reports the Mirror.

Steph holds various degrees and is an adept Irish dancer. The ex-champion has graced international competitions as a coach for rising stars in the dance world.

Career

Career-wise, Steph cut her teeth at the BBC with work experience on Tomorrow's World before climbing the ranks to become a producer for Radio Four's Today programme.

The small screen has seen plenty of Steph, with appearances on Shop Well for Less, Made in Great Britain, BBC Watchdog, The Masked Dancer, and Have I Got News for You.

In 2020, she took the helm of her own Channel 4 daytime show, Steph's Packed Lunch. Broadcasting from Leeds Dock, the show featured celebrity interviews, culinary delights, lifestyle tips, and news updates.

However, in 2023, the curtains closed on Steph's Packed Lunch due to "difficult decisions" made by the broadcaster amidst rapidly changing audience habits.

Reflecting on the show's journey, Steph issued a heartfelt statement, commending the team's accomplishments and expressing gratitude towards the crew and loyal viewers for their unwavering support.

On the final episode, an emotional Steph shared: "I'm not gonna waffle on because I can't say anything emotional without doing that ugly crying. But thank you for watching, thank you for everyone who's been on the show.

"I've loved it, and I am glad you have to. That is all from us here in Leeds. Look after yourselves, and goodbye!"

Family

Despite her public career, Steph has consistently maintained a veil of privacy over her personal life, sharing only snippets about her family.

In a candid discussion on Suzi Ruffell's Out podcast back in 2021, Steph divulged details about her sexuality. She mentioned, "I've never officially come out," and revealed that her romantic history includes both men and women.

She remarked, "I didn't do this big thing of 'I am gay' like my mate Reg did... I just kind of go with the flow of things, and I did not really overthink it," reflecting her laid-back approach to publicly defining her sexual orientation.

Explaining her decision to maintain privacy regarding her family life, Steph said, "It's not like I'm ashamed of anything in my life. It's more a case of I'm trying to lead as normal a life as I can."

The broadcaster emphasised the separation between her professional and private spheres, stating, "I just want to do my job, and I know that my job comes under scrutiny and profile. I just think that the less I talk about my private life, the less I can be asked about it."

Although she is involved in a serious relationship, Steph has kept her girlfriend's identity a secret.

Steph resides in Yorkshire with her partner and their daughter, born in 2019. While the couple's daughter has occasionally featured on Steph's social media, careful steps are taken to hide her face.

Celebrity Bear Hunt is available to stream on Netflix