{{Short description|British journalist and writer}} {{about|the British journalist|the American author|Samira Ahmed (author)}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Samira Ahmed | image = Samira Ahmed in 2022.jpg | alt = | caption = Ahmed in 2022 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1968|6|15}} | birth_place = Wandsworth, London, England<ref>{{cite news |last=Cubbin |first=Sophie |date=22 January 2019 |title=Journalist Samira Ahmed awarded honorary doctorate |url=https://www.city.ac.uk/news/2019/january/journalist-samira-ahmed-awarded-honorary-doctorate |website=City, University of London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201160948/https://www.city.ac.uk/news/2019/january/journalist-samira-ahmed-awarded-honorary-doctorate |archive-date=2020-02-01 |url-status=deviated}}</ref> | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = St Edmund Hall, Oxford<br />City University, London | occupation = Journalist, documentarian and news presenter | spouse = Brian Millar (divorced) | children = 2 | website = {{Official URL}} }} '''Samira Ahmed''' (born 15 June 1968) is a British journalist, writer and broadcaster at the BBC, for which she presents ''Front Row'' on Radio 4 and ''Newswatch'' on the BBC News channel and BBC One during ''BBC Breakfast'', and regularly presents radio documentaries. She was named British Broadcasting Press Guild audio presenter of the year in March 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Clover |first=Julian |date=14 March 2020 |title=Samira Ahmed accepts her award as Audio Presenter of the Year |url=http://www.broadcastingpressguild.org/2020/03/samira-ahmed-accepts-her-award-as-audio-presenter-of-the-year/ |website=Broadcasting Press Guild}}</ref>
Her latest documentaries include ''Disgusted, Mary Whitehouse''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmed |first1=Samira |title=Archive on Four:Disgusted, Mary Whitehouse |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015411 |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=BBC Sounds}}</ref> (March 2022) and ''Art of Persia'' (June 2020). She has presented Radio 3's ''Night Waves'' and Radio 4's ''PM'', ''The World Tonight'', ''Today'' and ''Sunday'', and has presented the Proms for BBC Four.<ref name="BBCN">{{cite news |title=Samira Ahmed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3k4cHYTXDCScnTnpN6hrzYp/samira-ahmed |access-date=2 August 2019 |work=BBC Newswatch}}</ref> She co-presents the vintage TV podcast ''Through the Square Window''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Through the Square Window – A podcast guiding you through the UK TV we watched in decades gone by|url=https://squarewindow.co.uk/|access-date=2025-11-27|language=en}}</ref> with journalist Graham Kibble-White. She is the author of a BFI Film Classics book on the Beatles' first film ''A Hard Day's Night''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/hard-days-night-9781839029394/|title=A Hard Day's Night|first=Samira |last=Ahmed|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing/BFI Film Classics|isbn= 9781839029394|date=April 2026}}</ref>
Ahmed's writing has appeared in several British publications, including ''The Guardian'', ''The Independent'' and ''The Spectator arts blog'', and she writes a regular column for ''New Humanist''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samira Ahmed |url=https://newhumanist.org.uk/contributors/5253/samira-ahmed |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=New Humanist |language=en-GB}}</ref> She was a reporter and presenter on ''Channel 4 News'' from 2000 to 2011. She presented ''Sunday Morning Live'', a topical discussion programme on BBC One, from 2012 to 2013.
==Early life== Ahmed was born in Wandsworth, south London,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FB%2F1968%2F3%2FAZ%2F000011%2F045 |title=Birth record |website=Findmypast}}</ref>{{non-primary source needed|date=September 2025}} to Athar<ref name="WhosWho">{{cite book|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-246169 |title=Ahmed, Samira|publisher=Who's Who (UK) |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U246169|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4|accessdate=2 August 2019 }}</ref> and Lalita (''née'' Chatterjee, born 1939, Lucknow)<ref name=IMDb>{{cite web|title=Lalita Ahmed|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0014161|publisher=IMDb}}</ref> Ahmed. Her mother is a TV presenter, actress, chef and writer on Indian cookery<ref>{{cite web |title=Celebrity Masterchef: Its part in my downfall |url=http://www.samiraahmed.co.uk/celebrity-masterchef-its-part-in-my-downfall/ |website=Samira Ahmed: Journalist, Writer, Broadcaster |accessdate=13 September 2019}}</ref> who previously worked for the Hindi service of the BBC World Service in Bush House as well as All India Radio in India.<ref name="Ahmed">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/samira-ahmed-my-life-in-media-461401.html|title=Samira Ahmed: My Life in Media|newspaper=The Independent|date=13 August 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522223116/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/samira-ahmed-my-life-in-media-461401.html|archivedate=22 May 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Samira attended Wimbledon High School, an independent day school for girls, and edited the school magazine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wimbledon High |url=https://www.tatler.com/school/wimbledon-high-tatler-school-guide |website=Tatler Schools Guide 2020 |publisher=Condé Nast Publications |date=21 December 2019 |access-date=5 January 2020 |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111073559/https://www.tatler.com/school/wimbledon-high-tatler-school-guide |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Doing the groundwork |journal=Verve – the Annual Magazine for the GDST Alumnae Network |date=7 February 2017 |issue=16/17 |pages=10–11 |url=https://issuu.com/gdst/docs/verve-magazine-gdst-alumnae-network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://issuu.com/wimbledonhighschool/docs/gdst-life-alumnae-magazine-2022-23 | title=GDST Life Alumnae Magazine 2022–2023 by Wimbledon High School – Issuu | date=4 May 2022 }}</ref>
Ahmed read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, which made her an honorary fellow in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Five Honorary Fellows Sworn in at St Edmund Hall |url=https://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/news/5-honorary-fellows |publisher=St Edmund Hall, Oxford |date=16 October 2019}}</ref> While an undergraduate, she edited ''Isis'' and the ''Union'' magazines, both University of Oxford student publications,<ref name="SAbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.samiraahmed.co.uk/?page_id=2 |title=About |website=Samira Ahmed}}</ref> and won the Philip Geddes Journalism Prize for her work on student newspapers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geddesprize.co.uk/Past_Winners.htm |title=Past Lecturers |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804033617/http://www.geddesprize.co.uk/Past_Winners.htm |archive-date=4 August 2012 |website=Philip Geddes Memorial Fund}}</ref> After graduation, she completed a postgraduate diploma in newspaper journalism at City University, London.<ref name="Malik">{{cite web |first=Rabiah |last=Malik |url=http://www.clickandquill.org/2011/02/23/samira-ahmed-2/ |title=Samira Ahmed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611072707/http://www.clickandquill.org/2011/02/23/samira-ahmed-2/ |archive-date=11 June 2011 |website=Chick and Quill |date=23 February 2011}}</ref> She recalls that Lucy Mathen, the first female Asian reporter on BBC television,<ref>{{cite web |first=Samira |last=Ahmed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/29/newsround-playground-racism-letter |title=Newsround, racism and me |work=The Guardian |date=29 September 2011}}</ref> who worked on ''John Craven's Newsround'', was an inspirational figure for her, as was broadcaster Shyama Perera,<ref name="Malik"/> who was working in Fleet Street at around the same time.<ref>{{cite web |first=Shyama |last=Perera |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/shyama-perera-how-i-have-come-to-love-the-flag-480976.html |title=How I have come to love the flag |work=The Independent |date=4 June 2006}}</ref>
==Journalism career== [[File:London Thinks- A Scientist, an Atheist Biblical Scholar and a Vicar Walk into an Ethical Society.webm|thumb|Ahmed talks with Francesca Stavrakopoulou, Giles Fraser and Adam Rutherford at Conway Hall.]] Ahmed became a BBC news trainee in 1990. After two years on attachments, she began to work as a network radio reporter in 1992 on programmes such as ''Today''. Fearful that her short BBC contract would not be renewed after a mishap in a difficult situation,<ref>{{cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Samira |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/my-greatest-mistake-samira-ahmed-presenter-channel-4-news-80907.html |title=My Greatest Mistake: Samira Ahmed, presenter, Channel 4 News |work=The Independent |date=3 December 2003 |access-date=2 August 2019 }}</ref> Ahmed applied to, and was taken on by, BBC World for work as a presenter, which led to her becoming a reporter for ''Newsnight''.<ref name="BBCN" /><ref name="Harris">{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Rob |last2=Ahmed |first2=Samira |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/mar/14/broadcasting.mondaymediasection |title=How to be... Samira Ahmed |work=The Guardian |date=14 March 2005 |access-date=2 August 2019 }}</ref> She was the BBC's Los Angeles correspondent during 1996–1997 and filed reports on the O. J. Simpson civil trial.<ref name="BBCN" /><ref name="MEvenN">{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/samira-ahmed-biography-1008539 |title=Samira Ahmed Biography |work=Manchester Evening News |date=12 January 2013 |access-date=2 August 2019 }}</ref>
Ahmed briefly worked for {{lang|de|Deutsche Welle}} in Berlin as an anchor and political correspondent, but then returned for a brief spell with BBC World and as a night-shift presenter for BBC News 24 before taking maternity leave.<ref name="Harris"/>
Ahmed joined ''Channel 4 News'' in April 2000, and became a presenter in July 2002. In June 2011, she left Channel 4, and went freelance.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jun/06/samira-ahmed-to-leave-channel-4 |title=Samira Ahmed to leave Channel 4 |work=The Guardian |date=6 June 2011 |access-date=2 August 2019 }}</ref>
In 2009, Ahmed won the "Broadcaster of the Year" category at the annual Stonewall Awards for her special report on "corrective rape" of lesbian women in South Africa.<ref name=sw2009>{{cite web |title=2009 winners |url=http://www.stonewall.org.uk/media/current_releases/3584.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109032311/http://www.stonewall.org.uk/media/current_releases/3584.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-11-09 |publisher=Stonewall }}</ref> The report was made after ActionAid contacted her about their campaign against homophobic crime.<ref name=cm>{{cite web |title=''Celebrity Mastermind'': memories of the black leather chair |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/celebrity-mastermind-memories-of-the-black-leather-chair |publisher=Channel 4 |author=Samira Ahmed |date=30 December 2010 }}</ref> She won the BBC's ''Celebrity Mastermind'', with a specialist round on Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of the ''Little House on the Prairie'' books, in December 2010. Again, in 2019, Ahmed won the ''Celebrity Mastermind'' Champion of Champions; she wore a ''Space 1999'' costume.<ref name=cm/><ref name=Guardian-mastermind-laura>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Samira |title=Spirit of the frontier |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/nov/26/little-house-on-the-prairie-ingalls-wilder |accessdate=24 June 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=26 November 2010 }}</ref>
From 2011 to 2013, she was a regular newspaper reviewer on ''Lorraine''.<ref name=IMDb /> From June 2012 to November 2013, she presented the third and fourth series of ''Sunday Morning Live'' on BBC One.<ref name="SAbio"/> In October 2012, Ahmed succeeded Ray Snoddy as presenter of ''Newswatch'' on the BBC News Channel.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/content/samira-ahmed-takes-over-ray-snoddy-newswatch-presenter |title=Samira Ahmed takes over from Ray Snoddy as ''Newswatch'' presenter |work=Press Gazette |date=3 October 2012 }}</ref>
She has been a visiting professor of journalism at Kingston University and a regular contributor to ''The Big Issue''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnbd/features/presenters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107122049/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnbd/features/presenters |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 November 2013 |title=Presenters |work=Sunday |publisher=BBC Radio 4 }}</ref>
In September 2019, she interviewed Margaret Atwood about the novelist's new book ''The Testaments'' at the National Theatre, which was simulcast to more than 1,000 cinemas around the world as part of National Theatre Live.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fraser |first1=Garnet |title=Margaret Atwood interview to air live in cinemas to promote ''Handmaid's Tale'' sequel |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2019/03/07/margaret-atwood-interview-to-air-live-in-cinemas-to-promote-handmaids-tale-sequel.html |accessdate=21 August 2019 |work=The Toronto Star |publisher=Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. |date=7 March 2019}}</ref>
In June 2020, BBC Four aired ''Art of Persia'', a three-part study presented by Ahmed on the history and culture of Iran.<ref>{{cite news |title=Samira Ahmed – The Art of Persia | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k48j| work=BBC Four|date=29 June 2020}}</ref> A long{{nbhyph}}time admirer of the Supermarionation works of Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson, Ahmed voiced a character in the similarly produced ''Nebula-75''. The character, Juliette Destiny, was also modelled to resemble the journalist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scifibulletin.com/uk-tv/nebula-75-interview-samira-ahmed/|title=Nebula-75: Interview: Samira Ahmed|date=23 December 2020}}</ref> She reprised the role for a second episode in 2021.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16727122/?ref_=ttep_ep3https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16727122/?ref_=ttep_ep3 "For the Ashes of His Fathers"], ''Nebula-75'', IMDB</ref>
In November 2021, Ahmed interviewed Paul McCartney and poet Paul Muldoon about their book ''The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present'' at the Royal Festival Hall. On 3 April 2023, Ahmed revealed her discovery of the earliest complete concert recording of the Beatles performing live in the UK on a special edition of ''Front Row'' on Radio 4.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmed |first1=Samira |title=Front Row |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001kpq1 |website=BBC Sounds |date=3 April 2023}}</ref> The tape was made by 15-year-old pupil John Bloomfield at Stowe School on 4 April 1963.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Samira |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65167799 |title=The Beatles: How a schoolboy made the band's earliest known UK concert recording |publisher=BBC News |date=3 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Samira |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/09/it-was-60-years-ago-today-schoolboys-tape-of-the-beatles-takes-us-back-to-an-era-of-optimism |title=It was 60 years ago today… schoolboy's tape of the Beatles transports us to an era of optimism |work=The Guardian |date=9 April 2023}}</ref> She subsequently broadcast extracts on ''Front Row'' from a second Stowe tape made the same night over dinner by the tuck shop master, after his daughters contacted her about their recording.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 – Front Row, The Beatles at Stowe, Nick Drake, Maggi Hambling |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001n1lr |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Ahmed has championed the cultural re-assessment of morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse in 2022 after studying 30 years of her campaign diaries,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-05 |title=Was moral campaigner Mary Whitehouse ahead of her time? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-60556060 |access-date=2024-02-23 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=2022-03-01 |title=Ahead of her time? Programme re-evaluates Mary Whitehouse's legacy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/01/ahead-of-her-time-programme-re-evaluates-mary-whitehouses-legacy |access-date=2024-02-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and the comedy series ''The Goodies'' in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Steven |date=2024-02-18 |title=Reappraise The Goodies as a catalyst for social change, says Samira Ahmed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/18/reappraise-the-goodies-catalyst-for-social-change-samira-ahmed |access-date=2024-02-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Ahmed has been awarded honorary doctorates by City, University of London,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-09 |title=A time for celebration at City's winter graduations {{!}} City, University of London |url=https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2019/02/a-time-for-celebration-at-citys-winter-graduations |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=www.citystgeorges.ac.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> the University of East Anglia,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ahmed, Samira – Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law (2022) – About |url=https://www.uea.ac.uk/web/about/alumni-and-supporters/graduation/honorary-graduates-2022/-/asset_publisher/hZwrxTsfpmbU/content/ahmed-samira-honorary-doctorate-in-civil-law-2022-?_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hZwrxTsfpmbU_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uea.ac.uk%3A443%2Fweb%2Fabout%2Falumni-and-supporters%2Fgraduation%2Fhonorary-graduates-2022%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hZwrxTsfpmbU&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hZwrxTsfpmbU_cur=0&p_r_p_resetCur=true&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hZwrxTsfpmbU_assetEntryId=7403459#TitleBar |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=www.uea.ac.uk |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506145022/https://www.uea.ac.uk/web/about/alumni-and-supporters/graduation/honorary-graduates-2022/-/asset_publisher/hZwrxTsfpmbU/content/ahmed-samira-honorary-doctorate-in-civil-law-2022-?_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hZwrxTsfpmbU_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uea.ac.uk%3A443%2Fweb%2Fabout%2Falumni-and-supporters%2Fgraduation%2Fhonorary-graduates-2022%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hZwrxTsfpmbU&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hZwrxTsfpmbU_cur=0&p_r_p_resetCur=true&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_hZwrxTsfpmbU_assetEntryId=7403459#TitleBar |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kingston University,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Broadcaster and journalist Samira Ahmed awarded honorary degree from Kingston University for contribution to journalism and gender equality |url=https://www.kingston.ac.uk/news/article/2854/27-jul-2023-broadcaster-and-journalist-samira-ahmed-awarded-honorary-degree-from-kingston-university-for-contribution-to-journalism/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=www.kingston.ac.uk |date=27 July 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and the University of Winchester<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=First group of Winchester university students enjoy graduation ceremony |url=https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/23923502.photos-university-winchester-students-celebrate-graduation/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=Hampshire Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>
She is a trustee of the Centre for Women's Justice,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our People |url=https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/our-people |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Centre for Women's Justice |language=en-US}}</ref> a member of the blue plaques panel for Historic England,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-06 |title=Meet the Blue Plaques Panel {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/features/blue-plaques-panel/ |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> and sat from 2015 to 2025 on the advisory board for the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us {{!}} National Science and Media Museum, Bradford |url=https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/about-us |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>
===Equal pay tribunal=== Ahmed filed legal proceedings against the BBC under the Equality Act 2010 in October 2019.<ref name="BBCEqualPay">{{cite news |title=Samira Ahmed takes BBC to court over equal pay |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50128698 |accessdate=21 October 2019 |work=BBC News Online |date=21 October 2019}}</ref> The London Central Employment Tribunal unanimously found in her favour on 10 January 2020.<ref name="BBCWon">{{cite news |title=Samira second episode in the series reveals how the country has proudly held onto its Persian identity, art and literature to this dayAhmed wins BBC equal pay tribunal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50599080?ocid=socialflow_twitter&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=twitter&ns_mchannel=social |accessdate=10 January 2020 |work=BBC News Online |date=10 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="JUDGEMENT">{{cite web |title=Judgments {{!}} Ahmed -v- BBC |url=https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/ahmed-v-bbc/ |publisher=Courts and Tribunals Judiciary |date=10 January 2020|access-date=10 January 2020 }}</ref> On 24 February 2020, it was announced that a settlement had been reached with the BBC, but no figure for this was made public.<ref name="BBC51611570">{{cite news |title=Samira Ahmed reaches settlement with BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51611570 |accessdate=24 February 2020 |work=BBC News Online |date=24 February 2020 }}</ref> In a 2020 interview with ''The Observer'', she revealed that a 1975 episode of ''The Goodies'' about newsroom sexism inspired her during the tribunal process.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=Tim |date=2020-06-07 |title=Samira Ahmed: 'Run for director general of the BBC? Maybe next time' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/07/samira-ahmed-run-for-director-general-of-the-bbc-maybe-next-time |access-date=2024-02-23 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> Her tribunal case was cited by the GDST as "leading the way on equal pay for women everywhere" when she was voted GDST Alumna of the Year 2021 by one of the largest votes ever.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-05 |title=Samira Ahmed wins GDST Alumna of the Year 2021 {{!}} News {{!}} Wimbledon High School |url=https://www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/news/2021-07-05/samira-ahmed-wins-gdst-alumna-of-the-year-2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406090903/https://www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/news/2021-07-05/samira-ahmed-wins-gdst-alumna-of-the-year-2021 |archive-date=2024-04-06 |access-date= |website=www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gdst.net/news/wimbledon-high-schools-samira-ahmed-alumna-of-the-year/ | title=Wimbledon High School's Samira Ahmed, Alumna of the Year | date=27 April 2022 }}</ref>
==Personal life== Ahmed was previously married to Brian Millar, and they have a son and a daughter.<ref name="ExpressStyle">{{cite news |last1=Mulley |first1=Laura |title=News presenter Samira Ahmed: As a woman, you'll always be judged on what you wear |url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/style/612048/News-presenter-Samira-Ahmed-style-fashion-secrets |accessdate=2 August 2019 |work=The Daily Express |date=18 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Good times with... Samira Ahmed |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/good-housekeeping-uk/20210701/284670440029259 |access-date=2025-07-19 |via=PressReader}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Binns |first=Interviews by Katie |date=2024-01-28 |title=Samira Ahmed: 'I benefited from my brother's advice on divorce' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/i-benefited-brothers-divorce-samira-salim-ahmed-g8kn9p68q |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> From 2023 to 2024, Ahmed was a trustee of the humanist charity Humanists UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://humanists.uk/about/our-people/trustees/|title=Trustees|work=Humanists UK|accessdate=26 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmed |first1=Samira |title=Volunteering |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/samira-ahmed-46695b30/details/volunteering-experiences/ |website=LinkedIn |access-date=16 December 2024 |quote=Member Board of Trustees, Humanists UK. Nov 2023 - Dec 2024. 1 yr 2 mos.}}</ref> She is president of the Twentieth Century Society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samira Ahmed elected as new C20 President – The Twentieth Century Society |url=https://c20society.org.uk/news/samira-ahmed-elected-as-new-c20-president |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=c20society.org.uk}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{official|http://www.samiraahmed.co.uk/}} *{{IMDb name|0014174}} *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qjrk2 Newswatch] (BBC News Channel) *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qsq5 Front Row] (BBC Radio 4) *[https://www.theguardian.com/profile/samira-ahmed Ahmed articles from ''The Guardian''] *[http://www.spectator.co.uk/search/author/tfad-author/?searchString=Samira%20Ahmed Ahmed articles from ''Spectator'']
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmed, Samira}} Category:1968 births Category:Alumni of City, University of London Category:Alumni of St Edmund Hall, Oxford Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists Category:BBC World News Category:21st-century British women journalists Category:English people of Indian descent Category:ITN newsreaders and journalists Category:Living people Category:People educated at Wimbledon High School Category:Journalists from London Category:21st-century British journalists Category:20th-century British women journalists Category:20th-century British journalists Category:People from the London Borough of Wandsworth