It’s not every day that a familiar face from BBC News steps away from the studio lights to train as a child therapist. But that’s exactly what Kate Silverton did — and the move has turned her into a two-time Sunday Times bestselling author along the way. Here’s the full story of her career pivot and what she’s doing now in 2025.
Born: 4 August 1970 ·
Former role: BBC news presenter ·
Current occupation: Child therapist ·
Notable achievement: Two-time Sunday Times bestselling author ·
Children: 2 ·
Education: Psychology degree, Durham University
Quick snapshot
- Former BBC news presenter who spent 25 years in journalism (Speakers Corner, a speakers bureau)
- Retrained as a qualified child therapist (Place2Be, children’s mental health charity)
- Two-time Sunday Times bestselling author (Instagram, her official personal account)
- Exact reasons for her facial appearance changes (no public statement from her)
- Specific illness details if any (no public confirmation)
- Exact net worth figure (no official disclosure)
- Exact timeline of her transition from BBC to therapy
- Born 4 August 1970 in Essex, England (IMDb, film database)
- Spent two decades as a BBC national news presenter (Speakers Corner)
- Contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 (according to Wikipedia)
- Active as a qualified child therapist and author from 2023 onward (Bonnier Books UK, publisher)
- Continues to work as a child therapist and ambassador for Place2Be (Place2Be)
- Expected to publish more parenting content (Bonnier Books UK)
- Available for motivational speaking engagements (Speakers Corner)
Nine biographical details, one pattern: a career that shifted from public broadcasting to clinical child development.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kate Silverton |
| Date of birth | 4 August 1970 |
| Place of birth | Essex, England |
| Education | Psychology degree, Durham University |
| Former occupation | BBC news presenter / broadcaster |
| Current occupation | Child therapist, author, speaker |
| Spouse | Mike Herd |
| Children | Two |
| Notable book | Sunday Times bestselling author |
Silverton traded a high-profile newsroom career for a quieter, hands-on role helping families — but her public speaking and book deals mean she hasn’t swapped influence for anonymity. Her credibility now rests on clinical training, not camera presence.
What Has Happened to Kate Silverton?
Her departure from BBC News
- Reportedly left her role as a BBC news presenter in 2021 (TV Ark via Facebook, a fan-run archive page).
- Before leaving, she was one of the BBC’s main national news presenters for roughly 25 years (Speakers Corner, a speakers bureau).
Becoming a qualified child therapist
- Kate Silverton is now a qualified child therapist — confirmed in February 2025 when she spoke as an ambassador for Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week (Place2Be, the children’s mental health charity).
- She describes herself as a “qualified child counsellor” on her Instagram profile (Instagram, her official personal account).
- Her publisher, Bonnier Books UK, introduced her 2024 book as coming from a “qualified child therapist” (Bonnier Books UK, a trade publishing house).
Bottom line: Kate Silverton left a two-decade BBC career to become a clinically trained child therapist. For readers who remember her as a newsreader, her professional identity has shifted from reporting stories to helping families navigate emotional challenges.
Who Is Kate Silverton’s Husband and Family?
Marriage to Mike Herd
- She is married to Mike Herd, a sound engineer and film producer (according to Wikipedia, the crowd-sourced encyclopedia).
- The couple live in the UK with their children.
Her two children
- Kate Silverton has two young children – a son and a daughter – as referenced in her Place2Be ambassador profile (Place2Be).
- Her lived experience as a parent often informs her parenting books and public talks.
Bottom line: Her family unit is small and based in the UK. Mike Herd stays out of the spotlight, while Silverton’s children provide real-world grounding for her professional advice on emotional regulation.
How Did Kate Silverton Become Famous?
Early life and education
- Born 4 August 1970 in Essex, England (IMDb, film database).
- Earned a psychology degree from Durham University (according to Wikipedia).
- Worked in the City of London in finance before moving into journalism.
BBC News presenting career
- Joined the BBC in the late 1990s and became a lead presenter on BBC One, BBC News, and Panorama (Speakers Corner).
- Produced and presented numerous documentaries, covering major news events and current affairs.
Strictly Come Dancing appearance
- Appeared as a contestant on the 16th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 (according to Wikipedia).
- Her participation introduced her to a broader, non-news audience and showcased a more personal side.
Bottom line: Fame came from nearly 25 years on BBC News, then a reality TV boost. But her highest-impact visibility may now come from her parenting books and mental-health advocacy, not from the newsroom.
What Is Kate Silverton Doing Now in 2025?
Her child therapy practice
- She works as a qualified child therapist and counsellor, taking clinical referrals (Place2Be).
- In February 2025 she recorded a video for Children’s Mental Health Week about emotional regulation, showing her expertise in action.
Author and speaker work
- Her first book, There’s No Such Thing as Naughty, was a Sunday Times bestseller. A follow-up, There Is Still No Such Thing as Naughty: Parenting the Primary Years, was announced in 2024 by Bonnier Books UK (Bonnier Books UK).
- She is also a motivational speaker and media commentator on child development (Speakers Corner).
Bottom line: In 2025, Silverton’s work is bifurcated: clinical one-to-one therapy with children, and large-scale influence via books and public speaking. Both rely on her psychology background and parent experience.
Why Does Kate Silverton’s Face Look Different?
- No verified medical or personal explanation has been provided by Kate Silverton regarding any changes to her appearance.
- Speculation online remains unfounded; neither she nor her representatives have addressed the topic publicly.
Bottom line: Without an official statement, all claims about her facial appearance are rumours. Readers should treat such speculation as gossip, not fact.
Timeline
- 4 August 1970: Born in Essex, England (IMDb)
- 1990s: Studied Psychology at Durham University; worked in the City of London (according to Wikipedia)
- 2000s–2010s: BBC news presenter, including BBC One, BBC News, and Panorama (Speakers Corner)
- 2018: Contestant on Strictly Come Dancing (according to Wikipedia)
- 2020–2021: Reportedly left BBC News to retrain as a child therapist (TV Ark via Facebook)
- 2023–2025: Published bestselling parenting books, works as a qualified child therapist and Place2Be ambassador (Bonnier Books UK; Place2Be)
Confirmed facts
- She was a BBC news presenter for 25 years (Speakers Corner).
- She retrained as a qualified child therapist (Place2Be).
- She has two children (Place2Be).
Unclear / speculation
- Exact reasons for facial appearance changes (no public statement).
- Specific illness details (if any).
- Exact net worth figure (undisclosed).
- Exact timeline of her transition from BBC to therapy.
- Her status as a two-time Sunday Times bestselling author (from Instagram bio, not independently verified).
- Her husband’s background (from Wikipedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia).
- Her education details (from Wikipedia, may be inaccurate).
“Emotional regulation is key to supporting children’s wellbeing — understanding what lies behind challenging behaviour can transform family dynamics.”
— Kate Silverton, speaking as Place2Be ambassador for Children’s Mental Health Week, February 2025 (Place2Be)
“Bestselling Kate Silverton returns with There Is Still No Such Thing as Naughty, helping parents understand how children’s brains are developing and what lies behind challenging behaviour.”
— Bonnier Books UK, publisher announcement, 2024 (Bonnier Books UK)
Silverton’s transition from news anchor to child therapist is complete and public. For families looking for evidence-based parenting support, the takeaway is clear: her authority now comes from clinical training and personal experience, not from a newsreader’s reputation. The choice for viewers who once trusted her for headlines is whether to extend that trust to her advice on child development — or seek it from other clinical professionals.
Silverton’s dual role as therapist and public author means her advice reaches far beyond her clinical practice.
youtube.com, podcasts.apple.com, allamericanspeakers.com, motherkind.co, mmu.ac.uk, sverigedebatt.se
In 2021 she left the newsroom to train as a child therapist, and a detailed account of her journey from BBC presenter to therapist can be found on DeepReport.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Kate Silverton leave the BBC?
She reportedly left in 2021 to retrain as a child therapist. She has not publicly detailed a single reason, but her subsequent career confirms a deliberate shift from broadcasting to child mental health.
What is Kate Silverton’s official website?
Her official website is katesilverton.com, though research notes did not include this as a cited source.
Does Kate Silverton still do media appearances?
Yes — she appears as a motivational speaker and child development commentator on podcasts and television, though she is no longer a regular news presenter.
What books has Kate Silverton written?
She wrote There’s No Such Thing as Naughty (Sunday Times bestseller) and the follow-up There Is Still No Such Thing as Naughty: Parenting the Primary Years (published 2024).
How many children does Kate Silverton have?
Two children — a son and a daughter, both under 10 years of age.
Where did Kate Silverton go to university?
She studied psychology at Durham University.
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George Thompson is Senior Reporter at UrbanMixr.uk, covering breaking culture, lifestyle and general news stories across the UK.