Sophie Morgan


Sophie Morgan, is a British television presenter and former reality television contestant. Morgan suffered a T6 spinal cord injury in a road traffic accident in 2003, resulting in paralysis from the chest down. In 2016, she was a lead presenter for Channel 4's TV coverage of the Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Early life

Morgan was born near Crowborough, East Sussex, in 1985. Her father is a retired wine broker and her mother held various positions as a nurse, gundog trainer and air stewardess. Morgan was educated at Cumnor House School, Danehill, East Sussex, and at Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland.
Morgan was left paralysed from the chest down after a road accident when she was 18 years old.
Prior to the accident, Morgan had planned to study Law at the University of Manchester. Having returned to live with her parents in Brighton, she instead opted to study art at the City College Brighton & Hove After completing her art foundation course, she started a bachelor of arts degree in fine arts at Goldsmiths, University of London. She later obtained a diploma in arts therapy from the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education.

Stalker

In August 2018, Robert Keegan was convicted of harassing Morgan and given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and an indefinite restraining order stopping him from contacting her. He subsequently breached the restraining order and in March 2019, on trial at Inner London Crown Court, was ordered to be detained in a secure psychiatric hospital for assessment awaiting sentencing.

Career in television

''Beyond Boundaries''

In 2004, 9 months after her accident, Morgan took part in the first series of BBC Two's Beyond Boundaries, which followed 11 disabled people on an expedition to traverse 220 miles across Nicaragua from its Atlantic coast to its Pacific coast. She contracted amoebic dysentery in the jungle, requiring 5 days' hospitalisation, and was unable to complete the expedition. A follow-up program, Beyond Boundaries: Where Are They Now?, was broadcast in 2009.

''Britain's Missing Top Model''

In 2008, Morgan appeared in BBC Three's Britain's Missing Top Model. For the series, 8 women with disabilities competed to impress a panel of judges and "prove that they have what it takes to become a model." The winner received a fashion shoot for Marie Claire magazine with photographer Rankin. Danny Cohen said that the series aimed to challenge boundaries in the beauty and fashion industries." Morgan was the runner-up to Kelly Knox. In 2011, Morgan was one of 12 women who were part of Stella McCartney's Adidas campaign for her 'MY2012' sportswear collection.

''Licence to Kill''

In 2013, Morgan presented Licence to Kill, a documentary for BBC Three about road accidents like hers caused by young drivers. The documentary won the Royal Television Society's award for Best Current Affairs film of 2013. Tom Sutcliffe, for The Independent, described it as "an often heartbreaking film, focusing on the misery that follows road-traffic accidents and the terrifying insouciance of young people about their own survival." Following broadcast of the film, Morgan teamed up with BBC Learning and Drive iQ to launch the Licence to Kill Schools Tour, visiting schools and colleges to promote young driver safety. The tour was endorsed by organizations including Road Safety GB, Transport for London, and RoadSafe.

''The World's Worst Place To Be Disabled?''

In 2015 Morgan travelled to Ghana, West Africa, to present The World's Worst Place To Be Disabled?, a documentary for BBC Three made as part of the channel's Defying the Label season. Nora Groce, an anthropologist working with people with disabilities in the developing world, described the documentary as "an accurate depiction of the life faced by millions of persons with disabilities".

''Best Laid Plans''

In 2018 Morgan co-hosted a British Channel 4 TV series, Best Laid Plans, with architectural designer Charlie Luxton. They came to the aid of homeowners whose domestic renovation projects had hit problems, helping the couples resolve their differences and come to decisions on how to proceed with their projects. The show lasted for one season.

Reportage

Morgan has appeared in Horizon for BBC Two, The One Show for BBC One and has reported for Channel 4 News as part of the No Go Britain series which examines accessibility and transport issues for the disabled. In 2019, Morgan presented 'The Secrets of Amazon', an edition of the Channel 4 current affairs series Dispatches. Notably, although she appeared in a wheelchair, the programme made no reference to her disability.

Sports broadcasting

Morgan was one of the presenters for Channel 4's sports coverage of the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, and co-hosted, with JJ Chalmers, the channel's coverage of the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Morgan has also co-hosted Channel 4's paralympic magazine show, The Superhuman Show, with Alex Brooker, and presented coverage of the 2016 IPC Swimming European Championships.

Campaign work

In recognition of her work with The Back Up Trust, a charity providing support for people with spinal cord injuries, Morgan was named Girl of The Year by Cosmopolitan in 2004. In 2013, she was named Ultimate Campaigner of the year in Cosmopolitan's Ultimate Women Awards. In 2015 Morgan became a patron of disability charity Scope. She is also an ambassador for Parallel London, the inclusive, disability-led push/run event. She has also assisted in promoting SEAT, a programme to help disabled youths learn to drive.

Mannequal

In 2010, Morgan designed the "Mannequal", a wheelchair for a mannequin which was installed in Adidas and Debenhams.