Polly James (broadcaster)

Polly James (formerly Polly Lake;^[2] born 1986 or 1987^[1]) is a Welsh radio and television presenter.^[3] She has presented for Absolute Radio,^[1] Radio X,^[4] and Capital South Wales.^[5] She has been a television sports broadcaster, covering darts for Sky Sports,^[6] as well as the Late Night Football Club, BBC One's chat show for the duration of Wales' participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.^[7][8]

James was born in Cardiff, Wales,^[9][10] and lived in Llanishen, Rhiwbina and Thornhill in the city and then Penarth.^[11] She attended Stanwell Comprehensive in Penarth.^[5] She competed for Wales and GB Juniors in athletics at an underage level.^[5][12][1]

James starting broadcasting in community radio stations like Afan FM,^[13] and Bridge FM.^[14] After working for Nation Radio Wales,^{[15][16][14][17]} she presented an overnight show on Absolute Radio in the early 2010's,^[1] moving to Capital South Wales in 2013.^[5][18] During Capital's restructuring in 2019, her Capital South Wales breakfast show (with Matt Lissack) was cancelled and she moved to Radio X.^[19][11] It was later nominated for Breakfast Show of the year.^[20]

She presented for Radio X Friday and Saturday nights in 2019.^[21][22] She has covered darts,^[23] rugby, football and boxing as a sports broadcaster,^[24][25] and presented for Unibet on social media.^[14]

James married fellow presenter Allan Lake and they founded a production company, Plush Productions, together in 2011.^[1][2] They divorced in the 2010s.^[1][5] She has one daughter and one son.^[9][26] In August 2018, her discovery of a homeless person sleeping on her porch made national headlines,^[27] and she rented out the property,^[10] with its unusual art collection (giant sheep, shark head, paintings by Ronnie Wood, a statue of Freddy Krueger and a door mural of Tom Jones in his underwear) in 2019.^[28]

She has spoken out against social media trolls,^[29] and in favour of Welsh independence.^[30]

• Polly James on Twitter