Nick Owen: The Trusted Voice of British Television and BBC Midlands Today
Nick Owen is one of Britain’s most respected television presenters and newsreaders. His full name is Nicholas Corbishley Owen MBE. He is best known for his long career on BBC Midlands Today, as well as his work on Good Morning Britain, Good Morning with Anne and Nick, TV-am, and ITV Sport.
Born on 1 November 1947 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, Nick Owen is 78 years old in 2026. His career has lasted more than five decades, making him one of the most familiar faces in British broadcasting. He has worked in newspapers, radio, national television, sport, regional news, charity events, and football leadership.
He is admired not only for his calm presenting style but also for his honesty about his health. After being treated for aggressive prostate cancer in 2023, he used his story to encourage men to get checked. That made him an important voice in cancer awareness across the UK.
Early Life and Education of Nick Owen
Nick Owen was born into a family that valued learning, discipline, and communication. His father, Bertie, was a headmaster and a Dunkirk veteran. His mother, Esme, was a music teacher. This background gave him a strong sense of public service and confidence from a young age. He attended Kingsland Grange Prep School before moving on to Shrewsbury School. He later studied Classics at the University of Leeds, graduating in 1969.
His early interest in news and writing began before his professional career. As a young person, he enjoyed creating his own small newspaper. That early habit showed the same interest in stories, people, and events that later shaped his broadcasting life.
Nick Owen Career Beginnings
Nick Owen did not begin on television straight away. His first steps were in print journalism. He worked as a graduate trainee at the Doncaster Evening Post and later joined the Birmingham Post. In 1973, he moved into broadcasting with BBC Radio Birmingham. There, he worked as a news producer and became involved in sport. This move helped him build the skills that later made him successful on television: clear speech, quick judgement, and the ability to explain events in a simple way.
By 1978, he had joined ATV as a sports presenter, commentator, and reporter. His work in the Midlands helped him become known to local audiences before he became a national TV name.
Nick Owen and National Television
Nick Owen became widely known across Britain through breakfast television. He joined TV-am, where he became one of the presenters of Good Morning Britain. His calm manner and friendly style suited morning television, where viewers wanted news, sport, warmth, and trust.
One of the most important partnerships of his career was with Anne Diamond. Together, they became a well-known TV pair. Their chemistry carried over to Good Morning with Anne and Nick, which aired on BBC One in the 1990s.
Good Morning with Anne and Nick
Good Morning with Anne and Nick became one of the programmes most closely linked with him. The show mixed interviews, lifestyle, news, and conversation. It gave him a place in the homes of millions of viewers and strengthened his image as a broadcaster who could handle both serious and lighter subjects.
His time with Anne Diamond remains one of the most remembered parts of his career. The pair helped shape the tone of British daytime television during that period.
Nick Owen and ITV Sport
Sport has always been a major part of his career. Through ITV Sport, he presented and covered major sporting events. His voice became familiar to viewers who followed football and other sports on television. His sports background also connected with his later role at Luton Town Football Club, where he moved from being a supporter to becoming chairman.
Nick Owen Midlands Today Career
For many viewers in the West Midlands, Nick Owen Midlands Today is the role that defines him most clearly. He joined BBC Midlands Today in 1997 and became one of the best-known presenters on the programme. His work on the show made him a trusted regional figure. Viewers saw him deliver local news, major regional stories, interviews, and community features with a steady and familiar style.
Why BBC Midlands Today Matters in His Career
BBC regional news has a close bond with its audience. Presenters become part of daily life. Nick Owen achieved that status in the Midlands. His long service gave the programme stability, and his experience helped him guide viewers through both ordinary news days and major events. Even after health problems, he returned to the programme. In 2023, after surgery for aggressive prostate cancer, he came back to the sofa one day a week at first. By 2025, he was hosting Midlands Today twice a week.
Has Nick Owen Retired?
Nick Owen has not announced full retirement. He has reduced his workload, especially after cancer treatment, but he has continued to be linked with BBC Midlands Today. The best way to describe his current working life is this: he is no longer working at the same pace as during his national breakfast TV years, but he remains active in broadcasting, public events, charity work, and health awareness.
Nick Owen Now
Nick Owen now continues to be known as a BBC presenter, event host, charity supporter, and cancer awareness voice. He has spoken openly about prostate cancer and the value of early checks. His honesty helped many men think more seriously about their health. He has also remained visible in the Midlands and in broadcasting circles. His career now carries the respect of a man who has spent more than 50 years in front of audiences and has faced serious illness with courage.
Nick Owen Wife
Nick Owen is married to Vicki Beevers. They married in July 2020. Vicki has been an important support during his cancer treatment and recovery. The couple live in Kinver, Staffordshire. During his illness, he spoke warmly about the support he received from Vicki, family, friends, colleagues, and viewers.
Nick Owen Ex-Wife
Nick Owen was previously married to Jill Lavery. They married in 1977 and later divorced. Jill is the mother of his four children. A past business record also connects him with Nick Owen Limited, where Nicholas Corbishley Owen served as director. Jill Marie Owen was once connected with that company as secretary before resigning in 2012. The company was later dissolved in 2017.
Nick Owen Children
Nick Owen has four children from his first marriage to Jill Lavery. He has publicly referred to having three sons, especially while speaking about prostate cancer awareness and family health. The full private details of all his children are not central to his public career. Some media coverage has used the names Tim, Andy or Andrew, Chris, and Jenny, but the safest wording is that he has four children, including three sons.
His family became part of his health story because he urged men to take cancer risks seriously, especially when family history may matter.
Nick Owen Net Worth
Nick Owen’s exact net worth has not been officially disclosed. Figures shared on entertainment websites should be treated as estimates, not proven facts. His income over the years has come from a long career in television, radio, sport broadcasting, event hosting, public speaking, and media work. He also served as chairman of Luton Town, although that role was more strongly tied to football leadership and loyalty than celebrity wealth.
Nick Owen Health and Prostate Cancer
In 2023, Nick Owen revealed that he had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. He received the diagnosis in April 2023, when he was 75. He later had surgery and took time away from BBC Midlands Today while recovering. His return to work in September 2023 was an emotional moment. He described it as a landmark because he had been through a hard and frightening period. At first, he returned one day a week.
Raising Awareness
His decision to speak about prostate cancer had a strong effect. More men began looking for symptoms and checking their own health. Prostate Cancer UK saw a rise in contact after he shared his story. In January 2025, he said he was doing very well. He was still having PSA checks every six months, and his PSA numbers were very low. He also said he felt hopeful and grateful after coming through a painful time.
His openness helped make prostate cancer a more common subject of conversation. He praised other well-known men who had spoken about the same illness, including Sir Chris Hoy, Stephen Fry, Steve Rider, Bob Willis, and Bill Turnbull.
Nick Owen and Kidney Cancer
In early 2026, news coverage said Nick Owen was recovering after surgery for kidney cancer. This came after his earlier prostate cancer treatment. Because of that, his health journey has become an important part of his later public life. Even so, he remains respected for facing illness with honesty and dignity. He has used his platform to help others, rather than keeping the subject hidden.
Nick Owen and Luton Town
Nick Owen is a lifelong supporter of Luton Town Football Club. His connection with the club became much deeper when he served as chairman from 2008 to 2017. He led the club during an important period in its recovery and development. His time as chairman showed another side of him: loyalty, leadership, and commitment to a club he loved. His social media identity also reflects this part of his life. He describes himself as an ex-chairman of Luton Town and a supporter of sport, including cricket.
Nick Owen Awards and Honours
Nick Owen was appointed MBE in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting and charity. This honour recognised both his media career and his work beyond the studio. He has also received awards from the Royal Television Society and has been honoured for his long service in broadcasting. His career is not only long; it is also respected by the industry.
Nick Owen Charity Work
Charity has been a major part of his life. He has supported causes linked to health, families, and community care. His work with Baby Lifeline and other causes helped show his commitment to using his public name for good. His MBE also reflects this service. It was not just for television fame, but for the wider value of his public work.
Nick Owen Social Media
Nick Owen uses the handle @nickowentv on X. His bio describes his work in radio, television, news, and sport across six decades. It also mentions BBC Midlands Today, Good Morning with Anne and Nick, TV-am, ITV Sport, his role as former Luton Town chairman, and his interest in Derbyshire County Cricket Club. This matches the main areas of his career and confirms how he presents his own working life to the public.
Final Words on Nick Owen
Nick Owen has built one of the most durable careers in British broadcasting. From newspapers to radio, from national breakfast television to regional news, from ITV Sport to BBC Midlands Today, he has stayed trusted across generations.
His story is not only about television. It is also about family, football, charity, illness, recovery, and service. He is a husband to Vicki Beevers, a father of four, a former husband of Jill Lavery, a former Luton Town chairman, and an MBE.
At 78, he remains a respected public figure. He has not fully retired, and his name is still closely tied to BBC Midlands Today. His later work in prostate cancer awareness has given his career a new purpose. For many viewers, Nick Owen is more than a presenter. He is a familiar, steady, and trusted voice in British life.
FAQs About Nick Owen
1. Who is Nick Owen?
Nick Owen is a British television presenter, newsreader, and sports broadcaster. His full name is Nicholas Corbishley Owen MBE. He is best known for BBC Midlands Today, Good Morning with Anne and Nick, TV-am, Good Morning Britain, and ITV Sport. He is also a former chairman of Luton Town Football Club.
2. How old is Nick Owen?
Nick Owen was born on 1 November 1947 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England. He is 78 years old in 2026.
3. Is Nick Owen married?
Yes, Nick Owen is married to Vicki Beevers. They married in July 2020. He was previously married to Jill Lavery, whom he married in 1977. They later divorced.
4. Does Nick Owen have children?
Yes, Nick Owen has four children from his first marriage to Jill Lavery. He has publicly spoken about having three sons, while some media coverage also mentions a daughter.
5. Has Nick Owen retired?
Nick Owen has not officially announced full retirement. He reduced his workload after cancer treatment, but he has remained connected with BBC Midlands Today. In 2025, he was still hosting the programme twice a week.
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