Charlie Webster (born 9 November 1982) is a British broadcaster and campaigner. She was born in Sheffield, England, and has a degree in Language and Linguistics from Newcastle University. She started her career as a TV presenter for Real Madrid TV and then worked for various sports channels such as ESPN, Sky Sports, ITV4, and BoxNation. She has covered a wide range of sports events, including football, motorsport, boxing, triathlon, and the Olympics. She has launched several campaigns to raise awareness and funds for causes such as domestic violence, mental health, and malaria prevention.
Early life and education
Webster was born in Sheffield and attended Tapton School where she participated in elite junior athletics. Webster's mother, Joy, who also attended the Tapton School, gave birth to her aged 16 and for her early childhood it was just the two of them and her grandparents. She has lived in Crookes, Newcastle Upon Tyne, and Leeds.
She studied Language and Linguistics at Newcastle University. At university, she worked as a personal trainer, fitness instructor and model.
Career
Broadcasting
Webster's broadcasting career spans over 15 years and covers various sports channels and events. She started her career as a TV presenter for Real Madrid TV, interviewing the Galactico team and presenting football programmes. She then moved to Asia to join ESPN, where she presented live Premier League football, motorsport and Asian football.
She returned to the UK and worked for several sports channels, such as Sky Sports, Sky Sports News, Setanta Sports News, Channel 4, ITV4, BoxNation, and British Eurosport. She has covered sports such as motorsport, boxing, Cycling, triathlon, speedway, beach volleyball, athletics, and ice hockey. She made history by becoming the first female presenter of boxing coverage as Wladimir Klitschko defended his heavyweight belts against Alex Leapai in 2014. She also presented the women's boxing at the London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as the beach volleyball and the athletics for the Paralympics 2012.
Guest appearances
Webster has made guest appearances on Good Morning Britain, discussing breaking sports and social topics including the sacking of Jose Mourinho in 2015. She has also made guest appearances on BBC 5 Live on Question Time Extra and Chiles on Friday.
Writing
Webster has written numerous sports columns, including a weekly football feature in the New Paper. She writes a blog on SkySports.com, and also writes for the Huffington Post, the Sheffield Star and football.co.uk. She writes a football column for Football Punk magazine and guest writes for The Independent and The Telegraph.
Podcasts
Some of her podcasts include: Undiscussable, an investigative series into domestic abuse; My Sporting Mind, an intimate show that speaks to sports stars about mental health; Surviving El Chapo, a true crime story about the twins who brought down the drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán; and the award winning Died and Survived, where she explores the mystery of near death experiences.
In 2023, the New York Festivals Radio Awards awarded gold to Died and Survived in the category of 'Personal Lives Podcast' and bronze to Surviving El Chapo in the category of 'Serialized Podcast'.
Other activities
After her studies at university, Webster began modelling professionally and also worked as a magician's assistant, taking part in illusions such as being sawn in half. She hosted various Nike training club events for Nike Women to help inspire women and girls to take up sport and exercise.
She was a contestant on the Channel 4 reality TV show Fool Around With.
Webster has hosted the RCM obesity seminar, spoke at the Women's Aid 'real man' campaign dinner and at the London Football Coaches Association dinner.
In November 2014, Webster resigned as a patron of Sheffield United after Ched Evans was invited to train at the club.
Personal life
Sports
Webster is a keen runner, triathlete, and boxer, training at the Lynn ABC, and has completed her level 2 Football Association coaching badge. She is a lifelong fan of Sheffield United.