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Katie Thistleton

Katie Thistleton is a TV and radio presenter, journalist and author, best known for her work on BBC Radio 1, BBC One’s Morning Live and CBBC.

After working as a Researcher for CBeebies, Katie made the leap in front of the camera at the start of 2013 after being headhunted to join the CBBC HQ line-up to host ‘the bits in between the shows’. Since 2016, Katie has been one of the lead presenters on BBC Radio 1 hosting her own show on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as Lifehacks on Sunday evenings. In late 2023, Katie also became a trained counsellor. Katie now co-hosts BBC Radio 1’s Going Home with Vick, Katie and Jamie.

After deputising on BBC Radio 1’s The Surgery in early 2016, Katie became the show’s main anchor before being promoted to the coveted Sunday slot with the new ‘Life Hacks’ programme. Katie and her co-presenter Vick Hope host the social action show, an appointment which made them the first female double act on BBC Radio 1 in 20 years. The pair alongside experts offer advice on topics ranging from sexual health and bullying to drink and drugs. The pair also host Radio 1’s Official Chart First look on Sunday evenings.

In July 2022, Katie was announced as host of her own Radio 1’s weekend show (Friday and Saturday, 10.30am – 1pm) which broadcasts live from MediaCity in Salford. 

After becoming a firm favourite, Katie can also be seen (and heard!) at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Radio 1’s Teen Awards and regularly deputises for other DJs.

In addition, Katie hosted the weekly ‘Life Hacks’ podcast with the show’s resident Doctor, Radha for BBC Sounds. As a proud Mancunian and radio enthusiast, Katie also regularly covers the breakfast show on BBC Radio Manchester as well as the mid-morning and lunchtime shows, further demonstrating her radio skills hosting phone-ins on topics ranging from hard-hitting political debates to more light-hearted chatties, and interviewing MP’s, celebrities and local people.

Katie is passionate about mental health awareness, she is an ambassador for charities Place2be and YoungMinds and is also a trained counsellor. Katie has also written for Psychologies Magazine about issues regularly faced by twenty-somethings.

Katie has appeared on The One Show, Morning Live and This Morning, hosting a film for the former about the lasting mental health affects of the Manchester Arena attack on young victims, and appearing on the sofa to offer advice. Katie has been an ‘agony aunt’ on This Morning’s sofa alongside Ruth and Eamonn offering advice to young students receiving exam results.

She has also hosted numerous documentaries for the BBC, on topics ranging from anti-depressants to the Kardashians, and recently a series called ‘I’ve Been There’ for the teen audience, on topics such as knife crime, cosmetic surgery, anxiety and depression.

In May 2021, Katie hosted the audio documentary series Manchester Arena Bomb: Stories of Hope for BBC Sounds. The series saw Katie finding stories of courage, hope and healing as fans, families and those affected by the atrocity rebuild their future four years on.

During lockdown in 2020 when schools were closed, Katie was chosen to be the main presenter fronting the Bitesize Daily TV shows for secondary school students, linking between educational content and interviewing teachers. The shows received record-breaking viewing figures.

Building on her ‘agony aunt’ experience, Katie’s debut book 'Dear Katie: Real Problems, Real Advice' was released in February 2018 and offers warm yet honest advice on the multitude of struggles the UK’s children are facing. Katie is currently writing her second book.

Since 2022, Katie has been a firm favourite of the Morning Live team alongside Gethin Jones.

A keen book worm herself, Katie also founded and hosted her own show 'The CBBC Book Club' for five years and regularly hosts and judges for book events such as the BBC Young Writers Award, The Lollies for Scholastic and David Walliams’ publication events, amongst many more.

Considered by many as a safe pair of hands with a calm and engaging presenting style, Katie has hosted a variety of live shows including Hacker's Birthday Bash, a celebration of 30 years of Children's BBC, Hacker's Crackers, Shout Out Saturday and Junior Bake Off: The After Party, as well as CBBC coverage of large events such as Wimbledon and Live from Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Other credits include Celebrity Mastermind, Celebrity Eggheads, BBC Radio 2, Children in Need, BBC 5Live and BBC Breakfast, where Katie has appeared to talk about children’s mental health and sex education.

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Noteable Work

  • Going Home with Vick, Katie and Jamie, BBC Radio 1
  • Life Hacks, BBC Radio 1
  • Morning Live, BBC One
  • Must Watch, Radio 5 Live
  • The Official Chart: First Look, BBC Radio 1
  • The One Show, BBC One
  • Manchester Arena Bomb: Stories of Hope, BBC Sounds
  • Time to Talk, BBC Teach
  • Love Island: The Morning After Podcast, Pineapple Production
  • Pointless Celebrities, BBC One
  • Bitesize Daily, BBC iPlayer
  • Saturday Mash Up, CBBC

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