Ben Fordham
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2017) |
Ben Fordham | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ben Fordham 29 November 1976 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Journalist & Radio Presenter |
| Notable credit(s) | Today 2GB |
| Spouse | Jodie Speers |
| Children | Freddy & Pearl |
Ben Fordham (born 29 November 1976) is an Australian journalist, sports reporter and radio presenter. Fordham is currently drive presenter on Sydney radio station 2GB and host of television program Australian Ninja Warrior.
Career
Fordham began his career on Sydney's 2UE radio station, for which he won a Walkley Award[1] for his coverage of the 1997 Thredbo landslide. In 1998, Fordham moved to television and joined Sky News Australia as a reporter and presenter.
After less than a year at Sky News, Fordham joined the Nine Network, working on tabloid current affair and news programs including 60 Minutes, A Current Affair, Nine News and Today.[citation needed]
Fordham filled in for Stuart Bocking on 2UE Nights in the 2008/09 summer period and also filled in for Ray Hadley on 2GB in the 2009/10 summer period.[citation needed]
In 2010, Ben joined Nine News and Today as a reporter, he also covered the 2010 federal election.[citation needed] In January 2011, Fordham became the Today sports presenter replacing Cameron Williams. Ben also joined 2GB in January 2011 replacing Jason Morrison to present 'Sydney Live'.[citation needed]
In March 2014, Fordham announced that he would be leaving Today at the end of the year to concentrate on his radio career.[2]
In 2016, he was announced as co-host of Australian Ninja Warrior alongside Rebecca Maddern on the Nine Network.[3]
Personal life
When Fordham was seven years of age, he was diagnosed with epilepsy after suffering a seizure.[4] He did work experience at a radio station as a teenager while a student at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, a Catholic college in Lane Cove.[5]
He is managed by The Fordham Company which is run by his father, John.[6]
In October 2011, Fordham married Seven News presenter Jodie Speers. In August 2014, Fordham announced on Today that his wife was pregnant with their first child: their son Freddy was born on 5 December 2014.[7]
In April 2016, Fordham announced on radio that Speers was pregnant with their second child.[8] She gave birth to daughter Pearl in October 2016.[9]
Legal issues
On 26 February 2009 Fordham was charged with concealing a serious crime and breaching the Listening Devices Act.[10] The Nine Network and A Current Affair's producer Andrew Byrne were also charged.
On 20 July 2010 NSW Supreme Court judge Elizabeth Fullerton called Fordham's attitude "disrespectful" when he failed to appear in court to hear her judgment on the charges of breaching the Listening Devices Act. Justice Fullerton found him guilty of one of four charges against him, that he knowingly recorded a conversation on 28 May 2008. Byrne was convicted of four charges of breaching the act.
The conversation was aired on ACA in May 2008, claiming to show former Waverley mayor James Markham ordering a fatal hit on a male escort.[11] Although found guilty, Fordham and Byrne each escaped conviction, with Justice Fullerton saying it was "an appalling lack of judgment by two senior journalists who are otherwise held in esteem by their colleagues".[12]
References
- ^ "Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (Australia) - records of the W.G. Walkley Awards, 1956 - 1999". State Library of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ "Sports presenter Ben Fordham quits Channel Nine's The Today Show to concentrate on 2GB drive show". news.com.au. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
- ^ "Ben Fordham, Freddie Flintoff join Australian Ninja Warrior 2017". MediaWeek. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ Auerbach, Taylor (9 September 2015). "My epilepsy battle: 2GB host Ben Fordham tells how he has suffered and coped". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ^ Rao, Shoba (20 October 2015). "Ben Fordham talks about his private battle with epilepsy". News.com.au. News Corp. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ^ "Media Watch - Fordham follies". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 June 2004. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ "Ben Fordham and wife Jodie Speers welcome their first child Freddy". News.com.au. News Corp. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Ben Fordham's wife Jodie Speers shows off her growing baby bump". Mail Online. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "'We had a little Pearl. She's as cute as a butterfly'. Ben Fordham and Jodie Speers announce birth of daughter". Daily Telegraph. News Corp. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ^ "Channel Nine charged over report". news.com.au. 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Kontominas, Bellinda (20 July 2010). "ACA reporter found guilty of breaching listening devices law". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ^ Wells, Jamelle. "Hit man sting journalists avoid conviction". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 February 2011.