Bianca Westwood was told she ‘wasn’t attractive enough’ for Sky Sports when she first applied, she reveals – before becoming the first female reporter on Soccer Saturday and working there until she joined talkSPORT in summer
- Bianca Westwood says Sky Sports initially told her she wasn’t attractive enough
- She was Soccer Saturday’s first female reporter, but has since worked at talkSPORT
- CHRIS SUTTON reveals his all-time favorite last-minute goals – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Bianca Westwood was told she wasn’t attractive enough to present for Sky Sports before becoming one of their most famous reporters, she has revealed.
Westwood worked at Sky Sports for 22 years and is known as the first female reporter on Football Saturdays.
She left in the summer but has since joined talkSPORT. She has fond memories of her time at the broadcaster, but has revealed she almost didn’t participate.
“When I did a screen test years ago I was told I wasn’t attractive enough for Sky Sports News,” she told the newspaper. Business Excellence Channell.
‘And part of me thought, why do I have to be attractive… because there are some unattractive men out there.
Bianca Westwood was initially told she was not attractive enough to join Sky Sports, she has revealed
Westwood worked at Sky Sports for more than 22 years, but now broadcasts with talkSPORT
‘But I also thought I didn’t look that bad. At the time I was told that as a woman your face should have a certain symmetry, and I didn’t have that.
‘Interestingly, years later I ended up in a box with just my face… and it didn’t matter that one eyebrow was higher than the other!’
Westwood fills a similar role at talkSPORT, providing live updates from the field and her opinions in the studio.
In August, she wrote an emotional farewell to Sky on Instagram, writing: “A bit like when I did my first match report, I didn’t want to make a fuss about it but I’ve had SO many messages and questions about where I was thinking I might as well let you know.
‘Unfortunately I haven’t earned enough money to retire yet, but I’m retiring from Sky Sports & Soccer on Saturday.
‘It has been a phenomenal 22 and a half years and I have played a small part in building the channel into the broadcasting giant it is today. What a ride!
‘Being the first female match reporter on Football Saturday is something I am extremely proud of and that can never be taken away from me.
‘I’ve covered hundreds and hundreds of matches, I’ve interviewed hundreds of players and managers.
As she left, Westwood talked about how proud she was to be the first woman to serve as Football Saturday’s game reporter
She has linked up with Jeff Stelling at talkSPORT following their years together as Sky colleagues
‘I watched hours and hours of football. Years of experience (I said what I said!) that will stay with me forever.
“For the most part it was great. I’m grateful to you, viewers, for watching over the years and for all your support.
“To those I worked with and who played a big part of my life at Sky, you know who you are, thank you for the memories. On to the next chapter. Longing for it.’
There was a huge summer exodus at Sky Sports as the broadcaster implemented cost-cutting measures.
Jeff Stelling, a regular on Football Saturdays, quit at the end of last season after almost 30 years as host of the popular show and is now with Westwood on talkSPORT.
Soccer AM duo John ‘Fenners’ Fendley and Peter ‘Tubes’ Dale also left the broadcaster when the long-running weekly comedy talk show ended after 29 years.
Additional notable departures from Sky’s football team include those of legendary commentator Martin Tyler and Soccer Saturday stalwart Dickie Davis.