Jenni Murray

On 5 November 2019 Murray was awarded an honorary degree in Doctor of Letters (DLitt) from the University of Chester. This was in recognition of her outstanding contribution to journalism and broadcasting.

Murray has been criticised for transphobic viewpoints. Writing for the Sunday Times in March 2017, Murray penned an article headlined "Jenni Murray: Be trans, be proud – but don’t call yourself a 'real woman'." Rachel Steins, campaigns director for Stonewall, condemned Murray's views as "reductive and hurtful."

Murray had a sleeve gastrectomy in June 2015, and had lost over 4 stone (56 lb; 25 kg) by October of that year.

In the 14 February 2013 episode of Woman's Hour, Murray interviewed journalist Susie Boniface (also known as "Fleet Street Fox"). They discussed Boniface's divorce from her husband, in which she admitted to abuse against him, such as cleaning the toilet with his toothbrush. Murray found this incident to be hilarious, openly laughing about the abuse on-air.

In March 2012 she was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Salford to recognise her contributions to the media industry as well as the growing links between the University and its neighbours at Salford Quays.

In 2008, she had a hip replacement following avascular necrosis, perhaps due to her earlier chemotherapy.

In 2007 she was awarded a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) honorary degree from the University of St Andrews in recognition of her major contribution to broadcasting, journalism and writing.

In November 2007 it was announced that Murray had been named patron of British medical research charity, Breast Cancer Campaign. She is also patron of the Family Planning Association, vice-president of Parkinson's UK and a supporter of Humanists UK.

On 21 December 2006, Murray announced at the end of Woman's Hour that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She informed her audience that her prognosis was good; she did indeed return early in 2007. She reported that the most emotionally upsetting moment was losing her hair, and used this as an item on the centrality of hair to definitions of femininity.

Murray was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting in 1999 and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours.

Murray joined BBC Radio Bristol in 1973 before becoming a reporter and presenter for local news programme South Today. She was a newsreader and later one of the presenters of the BBC's Newsnight television programme for two years from 1983, before moving to Radio 4 to present the Today programme. She took over from Sue MacGregor as presenter of Woman's Hour in 1987. She has also presented Radio 4's The Message and written for magazines and newspapers including The Guardian, Daily Express and the Daily Mail.

Dame Jennifer Susan Murray, DBE (née Bailey; born 12 May 1950) is an English journalist and broadcaster, best known for presenting BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour since 1987.