Experience is Everything

NEW SERIES: Award-winning Radio 4 broadcaster and Daily Mail columnist Jenni Murray discovers life lessons from living legends. Sir Trevor McDonald is one of Britain’s most beloved and influential journalists and newsreaders – but getting there wasn’t easy. He tells Jenni about the gulf between his dreams of a career in news and what his demanding parents wanted for him, the wrench of leaving his home country of Trinidad in 1969 to join the BBC World Service, and the cost of his determination and ambition on his family life. From covering the Troubles in Northern Ireland to landing the coveted position of newsreader on ITN’s News At Ten to world-exclusive interviews with Saddam Hussein, President George W Bush and Nelson Mandela, Sir Trevor reveals the lessons that drive his astonishing work ethic.  This episode is presented to you by Saga Boutique Cruises. Saga have created boutique cruises designed exclusively for the over 50s, with so much included in the price. 2026 season on sale now. Find Experience is Everything every two weeks on your favourite podcast platform. Follow us on: YouTube Facebook Instagram TikTok 00:00:00 Introduction & Welcome00:00:53 Trevor McDonald’s Childhood in Trinidad00:02:56 Importance of Education and Early Aspirations00:04:46 Choosing Journalism Over Traditional Careers00:06:43 The Role of Family and Work Ethic00:08:54 Preparing for Major Interviews (Saddam Hussein Example)00:11:02 Moving to London and Joining the BBC00:13:22 Transition to ITV and News at Ten00:15:12 Reporting in Northern Ireland: Experiences & Challenges00:17:41 Becoming a Celebrity News Anchor00:19:35 The Addictive Nature of Newsrooms00:21:28 Experiences with Racism and Diversity in Media00:23:42 Interviewing World Figures: Mandela, Saddam Hussein, Bush00:31:47 Covering Tragedies and Coping Emotionally00:34:27 Career Sacrifices and Family Impact00:36:47 Interracial Marriage and Children’s Experiences00:37:33 How Journalism Has Changed00:39:39 Interviewing Modern Political Figures: Trump Reflection00:41:48 Advice to His 18-Year-Old Self00:42:48 Reflections on Celebrity and Legacy00:43:29 Conclusion & Farewell Experience is Everything is a Podmasters production for Saga saga.co.uk podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NEW SERIES: Award-winning Radio 4 broadcaster and Daily Mail columnist Jenni Murray discovers life lessons from living legends.   This time Jenni hears the extraordinary story of one of the greatest broadcasters of all time. After cutting his teeth at sea on pirate radio, Tony Blackburn became the first voice on Radio One. He won the Radio Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award twice and gained a new generation of fans when he became the very first winner of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here. He tells Jenni how he faced success, setbacks, shipwrecks, a famous moment of on-air over-sharing during his divorce and much more with humour and humility. Find Experience is Everything every two weeks on your favourite podcast platform. ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Facebook ⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ Experience is Everything is a Podmasters production for Saga. ⁠saga.co.uk⁠ ⁠podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NEW SERIES: Award-winning Radio 4 broadcaster and Daily Mail columnist Jenni Murray meets beloved household names and discovers the moments that changed them. What have they learned over their remarkable lifetimes? In an extraordinarily frank, funny and poignant first episode, Have I Got News For You’s comic mainstay Paul Merton explains how a love of comedy got him through some of the hardest moments of his life. He reveals how it helped him cope with the death of his wife, and tells how it got him through both life-threatening illness and hospitalisation for mental health issues. It’s an astonishing story of resilience and humour. Presented to you by Saga Boutique River Cruises. Sail away with so much included in the price. 2026 season on sale now, browse the full collection here. Find Experience is Everything every two weeks on your favourite podcast platform. • YouTube: @EIEpod • Facebook • Instagram: eiepod • TikTok: eiepod Experience is Everything is a Podmasters production for Saga. saga.co.uk podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Experience is Everything - the brand new podcast from Saga, interviewing national treasures and household names to discover the most surprising, comical and moving moments that made them who they are today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices