Rachel Horne


Rachel Horne is an Northern Irish newsreader and journalist. She presented the BBC's children's news programme Newsround from 2002 until 2006. She also presented on BBC News's business bulletins on the BBC News Channel and travel news on Radio 2 in 2018. She joined Virgin Radio UK as a newsreader in 2019.

Early life

Horne grew up just outside Lisnaskea in County Fermanagh in Ulster, on the shores of Lough Erne. Her father, Terry Gibson, from Belfast, was a magistrate. Her mother, Anne Daly, is from Belleek. Rachel's maternal uncle was The Most Rev. Dr Edward Daly, who served as the Lord Bishop of Derry from 1974 until 1993.
At the age of 18 Horne went travelling and taught English in Vietnam. After reading Law and Theology at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, Horne studied for a postgraduate degree in Broadcast Journalism at City, University of London. She married comedian Alex Horne in 2005.

Career

Horne has worked for many BBC outputs including Breakfast with Frost, BBC Radio Five Live and Newsbeat on BBC Radio 1. Horne later worked for BBC Essex on their Breakfast programme as a reporter.

''Newsround''

Horne joined CBBC's flagship news programme, Newsround in December 2002. Alongside Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes, Thalia Pellegrini and Adam Fleming, Horne was part of the bulletin team and the main reporter. Initially, Horne also presented spin-off programme, Newsround Showbiz until its axe in 2005 due to poor ratings. Horne left Newsround in 2006.

Business News

Following her departure from Newsround, Horne joined BBC Two's flagship business programme Working Lunch. Horne was a member of the team as its business reporter from May 2006. Horne remained on the programme until its relaunch in 2008.
After Working Lunch, Horne joined the BBC News Channel's Business News team in 2009. Horne became a regular presenter, often presenting the afternoon and evening shift. Horne presented Monday to Thursday throughout the afternoon and evening after returning from maternity leave in 2012.
It was announced in 2012 that the BBC News Channel's business bulletins would be axed as part of the Delivering Quality First scheme. Horne left the channel for a time after the move to New Broadcasting house.
Horne reappeared presenting the business on the BBC News Channel during 2015 and presented regularly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Radio

Horne joined BBC Radio 2 in 2018, replacing Lynn Bowles as the regular weekday morning travel reporter. She moved to Virgin Radio UK in January 2019 to work on the Chris Evans breakfast show along with a number of former team members of the Radio 2 Chris Evans Breakfast Show and the breakfast show with its team including Rachel now resides on Virgin Radio.