Daisy McAndrew

Daisy McAndrew
Born	Daisy Sampson 1972 (age 38–39) London, England
Occupation	Journalist
Spouse(s)	John McAndrew (2005-present)
Children	Daughter and son
Ethnicity	White British
Nationality	British
Years active	2003-present
Notable credit(s)	The Daily Politics ITV News

Daisy McAndrew (née Sampson) (born 1972, London) is an English journalist currently employed by ITN as a special correspondent for the ITV News at Ten.

Biography

Sampson completed her A Level studies at Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies, where she studied English, Politics (with Prof Ian Swinburn) and History of Art. At 19, she worked as a researcher in the House of Commons, transferring to The House Magazine which she went on to edit between 1995 and 1997 before becoming a freelance political journalist in the House of Commons Press Gallery. In November 1999, Sampson became a press secretary to the Liberal Democrat Leader, Charles Kennedy.

After the 2001 general election, Sampson decided to develop a career in broadcasting, making regular contributions across television and radio, and before long she was presenting Channel 4's lunchtime political programme, Powerhouse. In the meantime, a weekly interview column continued for The House Magazine, reporting on politicians from all parties.

Sampson came to national prominence as a BBC News presenter, co-hosting weekday lunchtime show The Daily Politics with Andrew Neil and presenting Yesterday in Parliament on BBC Breakfast. From January 2005 until August 2005, she presented the weekday drivetime show for LBC 97.3 in London.

In September 2005, she joined ITN as chief political correspondent for ITV News, though her role was changed in June 2008 when she returned from maternity leave to economics editor. She occasionally acts as a newscaster, of ITV News weekend bulletins and the ITV News at 1:30, from 2006-2007 and again since 2010. In August 2011 she begun working under the new title of special correspondent for the ITV News at Ten.

She is an occasional news reviewer for the ITV1 daytime series This Morning.

Controversy

Charles Kennedy

In January 2006, it was alleged that McAndrew was responsible for the ITV News story that led to Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy being forced to reveal that he was a recovering alcoholic. Kennedy's party colleagues chose to capitalise on what was already low-key public knowledge, and this forced his resignation and triggered a leadership election. As she had previously served as Kennedy's personal press secretary, McAndrew's role in this story was widely questioned; some broadcasters and journalists aired the view that she had turned on her former employer, and dubbed her "the blonde assassin". Others considered that Kennedy's colleagues had questioned his capabilities to lead the party and had chosen to capitalise on the situation.

Tony Blair

Again, in February 2007, McAndrew's reporting was questioned, this time by Ofcom. She claimed on air that an interview of Tony Blair by Michael Parkinson revealed that Blair believed God played a role in his decision to go to war in Iraq. ITV was forced to apologise following the ruling.

Personal life

In August 2005, Sampson married John McAndrew, former editor of The Daily Politics; her husband is now working for Sky News. She has two children, Milly (b. 2006) and Daniel (b. 2007).

According the BBC News website, away from work she has many other interests.

"A self-confessed speed-junkie, motorcycles, go-karts, dune-buggies and fast cars are her other passions as well as throwing paper planes, cooking, walking her dog Nigel and endlessly moving home!"^[1]

References

1. ^ "Daisy Sampson". BBC News. 10 June 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_3630000/newsid_3638900/3638997.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010. 

• 'Blonde assassin' who was behind Kennedy downfall The Scotsman, 7 January 2006
• Faithful guardians tired of lying for a besieged leader The Times, 7 January 2006
• Who Killed Kennedy?^{[dead link]} The Sunday Herald, 8 January 2006
• The three days that finished off Charles Kennedy's leadership Daily Telegraph, 8 January 2006
• When the party called time on Chat Show Charlie The Times, 8 January 2006
• How Chatshow Charlie was left high and dry Scotland on Sunday, 8 January 2006
• And finally? Not when ITN has a sackload of exclusives The Observer, 19 February 2006
• Daisy's in clear over Chaz drink problem piece Press Gazette, 20 February 2006
• ITV News rebuked for misreporting Blair interview The Guardian, 27 February 2007

External links

• Daisy McAndrew at the Internet Movie Database
• Daisy McAndrew on Twitter
• ITV News at itv.com

Persondata
Name	Macandrew, Daisy
Alternative names	Daisy Sampson
Short description
Date of birth	1972
Place of birth	London, England
Date of death
Place of death