Diane-Louise Jordan

Diane-Louise Jordan was born on June 28, 1960, in Hackney, London, England. Her parents immigrated to England from Jamaica in the 1950s. She pursued her education in theatre arts at Rose Bruford College and subsequently worked as a stage actress. Her early career also included roles in television, such as the Chemist Shop Assistant in Mike Leigh’s film ‘High Hopes’ in 1988 and Grace in the TV series ‘South of the Border’ in the same year. In September 1989, she appeared in ‘Coronation Street’ as Kate Winterton.

A pivotal moment in Jordan’s career occurred in 1990 when she was recruited by ‘Blue Peter’ editor Lewis Bronze. She made history as the program’s first black presenter, a role she held from January 25, 1990, until February 26, 1996. During her six years on ‘Blue Peter’, she worked alongside co-presenters including Yvette Fielding, John Leslie, Anthea Turner, Tim Vincent, Stuart Miles, and Katy Hill. Following her departure from ‘Blue Peter’, Jordan transitioned to presenting the BBC One religious program ‘Songs of Praise’, where she remained for two decades. Her versatility extended to other television and radio programs such as ‘Countryfile’, ‘Out & About’, ‘Bright Sparks’, ‘Antiques Road Show’, and ‘The Sunday Hour’ on BBC Radio 2.

Beyond her broadcasting career, Jordan is known for her philanthropic work and advocacy for social impact. She serves as vice-president of Action for Children, sits on the Council of The Prince’s Trust, and is a Patron of the ADHD Foundation. She also held a trustee role for BBC Children in Need and was part of the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Committee in 1997. In more recent years, Jordan developed ‘The Making of Black Britain’, an oral history archive dedicated to exploring British identity through diverse stories. In 2023, Loughborough University awarded her an honorary degree in recognition of her contributions to broadcasting and her ongoing efforts to champion equality and inclusivity.