Kay Alexander: The Trusted BBC Midlands Today Presenter with a Remarkable Broadcasting Legacy

Elevate New Editorial Team1 day agoLast Updated: July 5, 2026

Kay Alexander is a respected British television presenter, newsreader, reporter, charity supporter, and public speaker. She is best known for her long career with BBC Midlands Today, where she became one of the most familiar faces of regional news in the West Midlands.

For almost 40 years, she brought clear speech, calm judgement, and warmth to television screens. Many viewers trusted her because she spoke in a steady and natural way. Her career was not built on noise or drama. It was built on skill, service, and a strong connection with local people.

She worked across radio, television, public events, charity work, theatre, and civic life. In 2013, she was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting and charity. She also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham for her contribution to broadcasting.

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Kay Alexander Early Life

Kay Alexander was born in June 1950 in Aldershot, Hampshire. As of July 2026, she is 76 years old. She came from a bright and educated family. Her mother was a doctor, and her father was an aeronautical engineer. She grew up with two brothers, which meant family life was active and full of strong characters. Her early years helped shape her confidence. She later became known for her clear voice, careful manner, and ability to speak to people with respect. These qualities became central to her work as a broadcaster.

Kay Alexander Education

Kay was educated at Frensham Heights School in Surrey. The school is known for encouraging creative thinking, confidence, and personal growth. This background suited her future career in media. After school, she went to the University of Birmingham, where she read English. Her study of English helped her build a strong command of language. It also supported her later work in radio and television, where clear writing and speech are vital.

Birmingham became an important city in her life. She studied there, worked there, and later became one of the region’s best-known media figures.

Kay Alexander BBC Career

Starting at Pebble Mill

After graduating, Kay Alexander joined the BBC at Pebble Mill in Birmingham. Pebble Mill was one of the BBC’s most important regional centres and helped create many popular programmes. Her first work was in radio. She contributed to BBC Radio 4 programmes, including Woman’s Hour, You and Yours, and Checkpoint. These shows gave her valuable experience in current affairs, interviews, and spoken journalism.

Radio was an excellent training ground for her. It taught her how to use voice, timing, and tone. It also taught her how to make serious topics easy to understand.

Moving into Television

After her early radio work, Kay moved into television. She began as a continuity announcer before joining the Midlands Today team. This move changed her career. She soon became a regular face on regional television. Her natural style and calm delivery made her a strong fit for news presenting.

Kay Alexander Midlands Today Success

The Face of BBC Regional News

Kay Alexander became best known as a presenter and newsreader on BBC Midlands Today. She worked on the programme for almost four decades and became one of its longest-serving presenters. She presented flagship news programmes and also worked as a feature reporter. She handled breakfast bulletins, lunchtime news, and wider regional features. Viewers saw her covering local stories, public issues, community events, and human-interest reports.

Her style was professional but friendly. She had authority without sounding cold. She could handle serious stories with care and lighter stories with charm.

Working with Well-Known BBC Colleagues

During her time on screen, Kay worked with several well-known BBC Midlands names. These included Tom Coyne, Alan Towers, Sue Beardsmore, Kathy Rochford, and Brian Conway. Her work with these colleagues helped shape Midlands Today into a trusted regional news programme. She became part of a team that many viewers invited into their homes each day.

In 1992, she chose to move from evening programmes to breakfast broadcasts. This change suited her family life at the time, especially while her children were taking exams. The hours were very early, but she handled them with discipline.

Kay Alexander Retirement from BBC

Kay Alexander retired from BBC Birmingham in 2012 after nearly 40 years in broadcasting. Her final regular BBC1 broadcast was on 30 October 2012. She then made a special final appearance on Midlands Today on 31 October 2012. Her retirement marked the end of a major era for BBC regional news in the West Midlands. She had spent most of her working life helping people understand the news of the day.

She said the time felt right to leave. Her husband, Brian Conway, had already retired, and she was ready for a new stage of life. Once she made the decision, she did not regret it.

Kay Alexander Husband

Kay Alexander is married to Brian Conway. He also worked in broadcasting and was one of her on-air partners. Their first meeting left a strong impression. They spoke for hours, and their shared love of broadcasting helped build a close bond. By 2012, they had been married for 24 years. Brian’s retirement helped Kay think about her own future. After many years of early mornings and busy news schedules, she was ready to spend more time with family and enjoy life away from daily television.

Kay Alexander Children

Kay Alexander has two children, a daughter and a son. She also has a stepson. In her retirement interview, she spoke about having a grandson named Archie, who was two years old at that time. She has kept much of her family life private, which deserves respect. What is clear is that family has always mattered to her. Her choice to work breakfast hours during her children’s exam years shows how carefully she balanced home life with a demanding career. Her life story is not only about television. It is also about family, service, and making thoughtful choices at the right time.

Kay Alexander Age

Kay Alexander was born in June 1950. This makes her 76 years old in July 2026. Her age is often asked because many people remember seeing her on television for many years. She became part of daily life for viewers across the Midlands. Her long career means that more than one generation grew up knowing her voice and face.

Kay Alexander MBE

In 2013, Kay Alexander was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting and charity in the West Midlands. This honour recognised two major parts of her life. First, it praised her long and trusted career in television. Second, it recognised her work for charities and community causes. An MBE is a major honour. For Kay, it showed how much her work meant beyond the newsroom. She had given years of service to viewers, charities, and local organisations.

Honorary Doctorate

In the same year, the University of Birmingham awarded her an honorary doctorate. This was a special honour because she had studied English at the university as a young woman. The award recognised her long contribution to broadcasting. It also connected her early education with her later success.

Kay Alexander Awards and Recognition

Kay Alexander also received recognition from the Royal Television Society. In 2003, she won an award marking 30 years in broadcasting. This award reflected the respect she earned from people in the media industry. Staying successful in television for such a long time is not easy. It takes discipline, trust, and the ability to change with the times. Her career showed all of these qualities.

Kay Alexander and Birmingham Assay Office

Historic Role as Chairman

Kay Alexander served as Chairman of the Birmingham Assay Office from 2006 to 2012. This was a major role in one of Birmingham’s historic institutions. The Birmingham Assay Office is linked with the testing and hallmarking of precious metals. It has a long place in the city’s history, especially because Birmingham has deep roots in jewellery and metalwork.

Kay became the first woman to chair any British assay office. This was an important achievement and showed her leadership outside television. She served two three-year terms before stepping down in 2012. Her time in this role added another strong chapter to her public life.

Kay Alexander Charity Work

Charity has been a major part of Kay’s work. She has supported several causes across the Midlands and beyond. She has been a Patron of Acorns Children’s Hospice in Birmingham. This charity supports children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, as well as their families. She has also supported Mary Ann Evans Hospice in Nuneaton and Breast Friends, a breast cancer charity. Her charity work shows her care for people facing serious challenges.

In 2018, she agreed to support Age UK Birmingham. Her role helped raise awareness of services for older people and carers. This work matched her long record of public service. She has also been an Ambassador for the National Forest, a major environmental project in central England.

Kay Alexander Theatre and Community Roles

Kay Alexander served as a Board Director of Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre from 1996 to 2005. Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the best-known theatres in the country. Her role showed her support for culture and the arts in the West Midlands. She was also connected with other civic and cultural work, including Lichfield Festival. These roles show that her life outside television was active and varied. Her board work, charity service, and public roles all point to the same quality: she used her experience to support useful causes.

Kay Alexander Film Work

In 2016, Kay Alexander presented a feature film called The Path of Inspiration. The film explored the history of Russian jewellery art from 2000 BC to the modern day. The project was filmed in Russia and gave her a new kind of presenting experience after leaving regular news work. It was later shown at the Venice Film Festival. This film connected her broadcasting skills with art, history, and jewellery. It also fitted well with her past role at the Birmingham Assay Office.

Kay Alexander as a Public Speaker

After her BBC career, Kay continued to work as a speaker, host, and conference chair. She has hosted award ceremonies, spoken at dinners and lunches, worked on corporate videos, and provided voice-over work. Years of live television gave her strong skills in front of an audience.

She is known for being warm, clear, and confident. These qualities make her a good choice for formal events, charity evenings, and business functions. Her speaking work also allows her to stay active without returning to daily news presenting.

Kay Alexander Highland Dancing Name Confusion

Some people also ask about Kay Alexander and Highland dancing. This seems to relate to a separate Highland dancing school or group in Scotland. There is no confirmed connection between the retired BBC Midlands Today presenter and Highland dancing. For that reason, it should not be treated as part of her life story. The BBC presenter is best known for broadcasting, charity work, public speaking, and her role with the Birmingham Assay Office.

Where Is Kay Alexander Now?

Kay Alexander is now retired from regular television broadcasting. She lives a more private life in the United Kingdom. Her retirement includes family time, volunteering, charity work, and selected public-speaking roles. She is no longer a daily newsreader, but she remains respected by many people who remember her work on Midlands Today. Her life after the BBC shows calm success. She left television at the right time and moved into a quieter but still useful stage of life.

Kay Alexander Legacy

Kay Alexander built a career based on trust, service, and skill. She was not only a newsreader. She was also a reporter, speaker, charity supporter, theatre director, civic leader, and historic chairman of the Birmingham Assay Office. Her work on BBC Midlands Today made her one of the most recognised regional presenters in the West Midlands. Her MBE and honorary doctorate showed the value of her service.

She remains an important name in British regional broadcasting. Her story proves that a steady, thoughtful, and professional presenter can leave a deep mark on a community. Kay Alexander’s legacy is one of calm authority, kindness, and long service. That is why she is still remembered with respect by viewers, charities, and the wider Midlands community.

FAQs

1. Who is Kay Alexander?

Kay Alexander is a retired British television newsreader, presenter, and reporter. She is best known for her long career on BBC Midlands Today, where she became one of the most trusted faces of regional news in the West Midlands.

2. How old is Kay Alexander?

Kay Alexander was born in June 1950. As of July 2026, she is 76 years old.

3. Is Kay Alexander married?

Yes, Kay Alexander is married to Brian Conway. He also worked in broadcasting and was one of her BBC colleagues.

4. Does Kay Alexander have children?

Yes, Kay Alexander has two children, a daughter and a son. She also has a stepson and a grandson named Archie.

5. Where is Kay Alexander now?

Kay Alexander is now retired from regular television broadcasting. She lives a more private life in the United Kingdom and remains active through charity work, volunteering, family life, and selected public-speaking roles.