Full Name George McDonald Name Trevor McDonald Ethnicity Afro-Caribbean Role Journalist | Nationality British, Trinidadian Children 2 | |
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Spouse Josephine McDonald (m. 1986) Books Fortunate circumstances Parents Geraldine McDonald, Lawson McDonald Movies and TV shows Tonight, The Secret Caribbean with Trev, Johnny English, Extinct, 3 Steps to Heaven Similar People John Alite, Julie Etchingham, Mark Austin, Moira Stuart, Roger Allam |
60 seconds with sir trevor mcdonald
Sir Trevor McDonald, OBE (born George McDonald; 16 August 1939) is a Trinidadian-British newsreader and journalist, best known for his career as a news presenter with ITN.
Contents
- 60 seconds with sir trevor mcdonald
- Veteran british journalist sir trevor mcdonald tells pupils hard work is the key to success
- Early career
- News at Ten
- Tonight
- First retirement
- Return to News at Ten
- Second retirement
- Documentaries
- Other work and media appearances
- Awards
- References

McDonald was knighted in 1999 for his services to journalism.

Veteran british journalist sir trevor mcdonald tells pupils hard work is the key to success
Early career

After working as a print and broadcast journalist in Trinidad during the 1960s, in 1969, McDonald was employed by BBC Radio as a producer, based in London but still broadcasting to the Caribbean. In 1973, he began his long association with Independent Television News, first as a general reporter, later as a sports correspondent, but ultimately concentrating on international politics. In the 1980s, he spent some time with the ITN-produced Channel 4 News, but returned to ITV in 1989, presenting the early-evening news.
News at Ten

McDonald was promoted in 1992 as the sole presenter of News at Ten and became a well-known face on British television screens. McDonald stayed with ITN when News at Ten was axed in 1999, moving to present the new ITV Evening News. News at Ten was briefly relaunched on 22 January 2001, to which McDonald returned as a presenter. He presented the ITV News at 10.30 following News at Ten's second axing.
Tonight

From 1999 to 2005, McDonald hosted ITV's flagship current affairs programme Tonight with Trevor McDonald. The show was revived in 2010 with presenter Julie Etchingham.
First retirement
On 29 November 2005, speculation that McDonald was about to leave ITV to work elsewhere ended when he signed a further two-year contract involving producing both a documentary show and a new series of interviews which will be of a wider general interest.
McDonald presented his last ITV News bulletin on 15 December 2005. The veteran newsreader stepped down from his role as anchor after more than 30 years at ITN, but said he had no plans to retire completely from television. At the end of the final programme, he signed off with the words:
Over the closing titles of the last bulletin that McDonald presented, the November 1992 to March 1999 ITV News at Ten theme was played as a tribute to him.
Return to News at Ten
On 31 October 2007, ITV announced that, early in 2008, McDonald would come out of retirement to present the relaunched News at Ten together with Julie Etchingham. He told a newspaper: "I couldn’t turn down the move back to that iconic time slot." News at Ten began broadcasting once again on 14 January 2008.
Second retirement
It was announced on 30 October 2008 that McDonald would step down from News at Ten once the US 2008 Presidential elections were over, to be replaced by Mark Austin. His last bulletin was on 20 November 2008. It was reported at the time that he would continue to present links for The Tonight Programme.
Documentaries
Other work and media appearances
Awards
McDonald holds honorary degrees from the University of Plymouth and Liverpool John Moores University. In 1992, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen's honours list. He received a knighthood in 1999 for his services to journalism. He was awarded with a BAFTA fellowship at the 2011 British Academy Television Awards.