Event host

We are delighted to welcome Natasha Kaplinsky, one of television’s best-loved broadcasters, to Keele as our host for Breaking the Mould 2023!

She has previously worked as one of the anchors for ITN network and was the Face of Five, anchoring the channel’s main evening news programme. She has also been the co-host of 6 O’Clock News and BBC Breakfast. Whilst working as a leading member of the presenting team at Sky News the channel won a BAFTA for Best News Channel. She has also hosted many one-off documentaries including The People’s Medal, Missing: Without Trace and On the Run (ITV). 

Natasha discovered a hidden talent in 2004 when she took part in BBC1’s Award-winning show Strictly Come Dancing, becoming the first ever winner. She went on to present the second series as well as hosting Strictly African Dancing and the Big Screen Opera events for the Royal Opera House.
 
She has also been the subject of Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC1).  In this programme she learned that members of her family had suffered in the Holocaust.  Following this discovery, Natasha joined in the task of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation and has since discussed her work for a Holocaust Memorial Day special for BBC1’s Antiques Roadshow.  Natasha is a member of the Prime Minister's Holocaust Commission and was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to Holocaust Commemoration.
 
In 2019 Natasha was announced as Barnardo’s new President as well as being a patron of Merlin and The Willow Foundation and an Ambassador for Save the Children. This made her the natural choice to present ITV’s entertainment series, Born to Shine, produced in partnership with Save The Children and nominated for the Rose D'Or.