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Polly James (broadcaster)

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Polly James
Born (1986-11-28) 28 November 1986 (age 37)
Cardiff, Wales
SpouseAllan Lake (2000s–2010s)[1]
Children2
Career
StationRadio X
NetworkGlobal Media & Entertainment
Time slotWeekend afternoons (2019–present)
StationCapital South Wales
NetworkCapital (radio network)
Time slotWeekday Breakfast (–2019)
CountryUnited Kingdom

Polly James (formerly Polly Lake;[2] born 1986 or 1987[1]) is a Welsh radio and television presenter.[3] She has presented for Absolute Radio,[1] Radio X,[4] and Capital South Wales.[5] She has been a television sports broadcaster, covering darts for Sky Sports,[6] as well as the Late Night Football Club, BBC One's chat show for the duration of Wales' participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[7][8]

Background

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James was born in Cardiff, Wales,[9][10] and lived in Llanishen, Rhiwbina and Thornhill in the city and then Penarth.[11] She attended Stanwell Comprehensive in Penarth.[5] She competed for Wales and GB Juniors in athletics at an underage level.[5][12][1]

Career

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James starting broadcasting in community radio stations like Afan FM,[13] and Bridge FM.[14] After working for Nation Radio Wales,[15][16][14][17] she presented an overnight show on Absolute Radio in the early 2010's,[1] moving to Capital South Wales in 2013.[5][18] During Capital's restructuring in 2019, her Capital South Wales breakfast show (with Matt Lissack) was cancelled and she moved to Radio X.[19][11] It was later nominated for Breakfast Show of the year.[20]

She presented for Radio X Friday and Saturday nights in 2019.[21][22] She has covered darts,[23] rugby, football and boxing as a sports broadcaster,[24][25] and presented for Unibet on social media.[14]

Personal life

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James married fellow presenter Allan Lake and they founded a production company, Plush Productions, together in 2011.[1][2] They divorced in the 2010s.[1][5] She has one daughter and one son.[9][26] In August 2018, her discovery of a homeless person sleeping on her porch made national headlines,[27] and she rented out the property,[10] with its unusual art collection (giant sheep, shark head, paintings by Ronnie Wood, a statue of Freddy Krueger and a door mural of Tom Jones in his underwear) in 2019.[28]

She has spoken out against social media trolls,[29] and in favour of Welsh independence.[30]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Owens, David (1 February 2013). "DJ Polly James looks back on her meteoric rise in broadcasting". Wales Online.
  2. ^ a b "Polly JAMES personal appointments". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Companies House. "PLUSH PRODUCTIONS LTD filing history". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Companies House. 2 August 2011. Incorporation - Model articles adopted. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  3. ^ Gurner, Richard (24 November 2022). "Castle Gate wins at the 2022 Welsh Restaurant Awards".
  4. ^ "Radio X presenter Polly James dares to believe Wales can beat Australia | Rugby World Cup 2021". Rugby World Cup. 21 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "DJ Polly's back for breakfast". South Wales Echo. 1 February 2013. p. 13. Gale A317125040 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  6. ^ "King Charles, Mark Webster and Antonio Conte!?! | 'A Night At The Darts With...'". Sky Sports.
  7. ^ Martin, Roy (17 September 2018). "BBC dominates shortlist for ARIAS 2018 radio awards".
  8. ^ Stevens, Gill (18 November 2022). "Late Night Football Club filmed in Wrexham by the BBC before each Welsh game - news.wrexham.gov.uk".
  9. ^ a b Gupwell, Katie-Ann (7 March 2020). "Radio presenter Polly James gives birth to baby girl". Wales Online.
  10. ^ a b Owens, David (13 February 2019). "Inside radio DJ Polly James' outrageous Cardiff home where you can live". Wales Online.
  11. ^ a b "Style of the City talks exclusively with Polly James, one of Wales' favourite radio presenters". 14 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Welsh Championships". www.gbrathletics.com.
  13. ^ "'I just knew I wanted to be on the radio and talk' Welsh DJ Polly James has achieved much in her broadcasting career despite being just 26. Now she's returned home to launch a new radio show, but as she tells David Owens, her life hasn't exactly been mapped out for her... TheBIGInterview". Western Mail (Interview). 1 February 2013. p. 28. Gale A317124826 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  14. ^ a b c "Episode 12 - Polly James". 2 April 2021 – via open.spotify.com.
  15. ^ "Presenters". NationWales.com. 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009.
  16. ^ Owens, David (11 March 2019). "Radio DJ lands national station job after Welsh breakfast show axed". WalesOnline.
  17. ^ "Students go professional". South Wales Echo. 24 November 2009. p. 12. Gale A212783444 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  18. ^ "Capital FM trio move to breakfast show slot". South Wales Echo. 13 July 2013. p. 12. Gale A336634799 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  19. ^ "DJ duo gear up for the drivetime slot". South Wales Echo. 21 May 2019. p. 16. Gale A586087399 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  20. ^ "Capital breakfast team up for radio award". South Wales Echo. 3 July 2014. p. 26. Gale A373589368 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  21. ^ "DJs Matt and Polly present final Capital FM breakfast show". ITV News. 29 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Polly James to host new show on Radio X". Radio X. 23 March 2019.
  23. ^ "Polly James & Michael Bridge | Grand Slam of Darts preview | Joe Cullen interview". 9 November 2022 – via open.spotify.com.
  24. ^ "Championship Boxing on BBC Wales, iPlayer". 13 May 2022.
  25. ^ "icdb.tv - Commentator listing for Polly James". boxing.icdb.tv.
  26. ^ @PollyJames (10 August 2022). "Welcome to this weird and wonderful world, baby boy! We love you beyond any words can describe 💙" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ Owens, David (8 August 2018). "This chat between a woman and a man she found on her doorstep is top class". WalesOnline.
  28. ^ "POLLY'S ECLECTIC PAD". Western Mail. 25 November 2017. p. 6. Gale A515544152 – via The Free Library.
  29. ^ James, Polly (19 February 2021). "Polly James: Do they want people to be abused?". Dartsworld.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  30. ^ "'If independence can fix child poverty in Wales, then I'm all for it'". Nation.Cymru. 29 April 2021.
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