Kirsty Young was born in East Kilbride in Scotland.
Her father was a policeman, but he left the family when Kirsty Young was a baby.
Three years later, Kirsty's mother married John Young, a carpenter.
She had a stint as an au pair on the continent before getting into broadcasting.
Until May 2007, Kirsty Young presented Five News.
Previously Kirsty Young had left Five in 1999 to join ITV News but returned in 2002.
From 1990-1993 Kirsty Young was a presenter with BBC Radio Scotland, 1990-93. She then became a newscaster at Scottish TV.
Kirsty Young presents Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, having taken over from Sue Lawley in 2006.
In January 2008, Kirsty Young took over from Fiona Bruce presenting Crimewatch.
