Reader TTS

SKY SPORTS' FIRST FEMALE FOOTBALL REPORTER SAYS 'I DIDN'T LET THOSE CATCALLS PREVENT ME DOING MY JOB' AS SHE OPENS UP ON DECADES BEING A TRAILBLAZER MIKE WALTERS Sports

writer 08:41, 03 Jun 2025Updated 08:42, 03 Jun 2025 Bianca Westwood is doing an Aussie accent. “I used to watch Neighbours a lot, so I can talk like that ,” she’s telling me, in a twang so

convincing it’s like Kylie’s walked into the room. Moments later, she’s Liverpudlian. “I also watched Brookside, so I can do Scouse as well,” she adds. Again, it sounds spot-on to me. Maybe

less so to a Scouser. She’s doing all this, let me stress, not to show off but because I’ve persuaded her to, just for fun. Reflecting on her long career at Sky Sports, which came to an end

two years ago, she’s suggested she was maybe “kind of pigeon-holed” by her Cockney accent, that it denied her further opportunities. So I’ve just said: “Okay, let’s find you a different one

to use from now on.” I’m kidding, obviously. But she’s game for a laugh. Article continues below Indeed, her humour is one of the qualities that made her perfect for Soccer Saturday, the

cult live scores show where she broke new ground in 2012, becoming its first female match reporter (Bournemouth 2 Leyton Orient 0, since you ask). As well as bringing decades of football

knowledge (she first watched West Ham in 1980, aged six) and many years’ experience behind the scenes, Bianca also began bantering rather beautifully with legendary host Jeff Stelling, who

remains a good friend (and whose recent one-man touring show she hosted). Certain folk online, with tiresome predictability, were less appreciative. “The trolling and abuse were horrific,”

she says. “They attacked my voice, they attacked my looks, they accused me of not knowing anything.” While Bianca has “a pretty thick skin” (having five brothers, “I can give as good as I

get”), such vile comments initially hurt like hell. But in time they simply lost their sting: “Once you’ve heard everything, it kind of doesn’t affect you anymore.” Bianca’s online profile

is actually higher now than ever. As an influencer on Instagram and TikTok, she focuses on fashion, beauty and travel, particularly aimed at her fellow over-50s. The feedback, needless to

say, is kinder, although there’s the odd exception. “It’s quite ironic,” she says, “for men to be telling me to stick to football!” Of course, football is something Bianca would love to have

stayed involved with. “It would’ve been nice to still have some connections with the game,” she admits, “but the calls never came, unfortunately. So I just got on with it.” It was sensing

how things were shifting at Sky that persuaded Bianca to start building up her online fashion and beauty work, some while before she and the broadcaster parted company. Change had begun to

look inevitable. And she knows how this plays out. “They want new things,” she says. “They want new faces. So I had a feeling I’d end up going down that road as well.” Despite more women now

presenting and reporting on football (“I think I’ve played a tiny part in changing that culture…”), she feels they’re still given limited off-screen opportunities. “It’s still pretty much

middle-aged white men making the decisions,” she says. Even so, she insists: “There's absolutely no bitterness I have towards that company as a whole. It gave me years of a brilliant

career.” Instead, she’s relishing fresh opportunities. “I’d love to do a reality show,” she says. “Strictly would be amazing. I’ve got rhythm and I’ve got moves!” But isn’t there another

show she’d be ideal for, I suggest? With her love of West Ham, that Cockney accent, even her name – surely she’s tailor-made for EastEnders? “Tell them to call me!” she chuckles. Article

continues below Except, it then occurs to me, they might have dastardly deeds in store for her character. What if she had to storm into the Queen Vic, for example, and whack someone over the

head? “Oh, I could do that!” Bianca assures me. “The East Ender would come out in me, don’t you worry!”