Sir Trevor McDonald OBE was born and educated in Trinidad in the West Indies where his career in the media began, first as a radio reporter, news presenter and sports journalist. Trevor came to London in August 1969 to work as a Producer in the BBC Overseas Regional Service at Bush House in the Aldwych. He went on to produce Current Affairs programmes for the BBC World Service there and in that capacity worked on the initiation of a number of shows like The World Today which are still part of the BBC World Service schedule.

Trevor became the first sole Presenter of News At Ten in 1992 and anchored the Late Evening News until December 2005. By then he had received more awards than any other news broadcaster in Britain; .the Richard Dimbleby Award for Outstanding Contribution to television from BAFTA, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the Royal Television Society Gold Medal for his outstanding contribution to television news in 1998, in 2003 the National Television Award for outstanding commitment to television, and in February 2005 the Judges Award by the Royal Television Society. He was named Newscaster of the year in 1993, 1997 and 1999 and has regularly topped the polls as the most authoritative and trustworthy news presenter. He has received Honorary Degrees from at least eight Universities.

Trevor McDonald was awarded the OBE in 1992 and was awarded a Knighthood in 1999.