Mariella Frostrup Bio, Age, Height, Husband, Salary, Net Worth Menopause
For four decades the husky-toned Irish-Norwegian broadcaster has been the go-to voice for books, arts and no-holds-barred relationship advice. From Live Aid PR girl to Booker Prize judge, BBC Radio 4’s Open Book host to UK Government Menopause Employment Ambassador (appointed October 2024), Mariella Frostrup remains 2025’s busiest cultural polymath—and now a Loose Women regular and V&A Trustee.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Mariella Frostrup (née Guðrún) |
| Profession | Broadcaster • Journalist • Author • Arts Advocate |
| Birth Date | 12 November 1962 |
| Age (2025) | 63 |
| Birth Place | Oslo, Norway |
| Nationality | British (naturalised) |
| Known For | Open Book (BBC R4) • The Book Show (Sky Arts) • Times Radio • Menopause Mandate |
| Ethnicity | Norwegian-Scottish-Irish |
| Zodiac | Scorpio |
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | ≈ 128 lb (58 kg) (est.) |
| Hair Color | Brunette |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Education | Drama & Media, secretarial college (London) |
| Religion | Christian (CofE) |
| Marital Status | Married to Jason McCue (human-rights lawyer) |
| Children | 2 |
| Hobbies | Menopause activism, Somerset walks, single-malt tastings, cricket |
| Current Work | Menopause Employment Ambassador, V&A Trustee, Loose Women panellist |
| Years Active | 1980–present |
| Net Worth 2025 | ≈ £4 million ($5 million) |
Early Life & Education
Born in Oslo to a Norwegian journalist father (foreign editor, The Irish Times) and Scottish artist mother, Mariella moved to County Wicklow, Ireland, aged six, then London at 16 after her father’s death . She trained as a tape-op on the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, worked with Simple Minds and segued into PR for Phonogram/Parlophone Records, coordinating Live Aid publicity at Wembley in 1985 .
Career Journey
1989-1999 – Music TV & Film Critic
- Channel 4’s Big World Cafe alongside Eagle-Eye Cherry – broke the mould for yoof music TV .
- Thames TV’s Video View then Carlton’s The Little Picture Show – film-critic slot that made her TV’s sexiest female voice (a 2005 poll) .
2000-2013 – Book Show Queen
- Sky Arts’ The Book Show – interviewed every Nobel laureate from Lessing to Dylan.
- BBC Radio 4’s Open Book (2002-2020) – weekly literary bible; Booker Prize judge in 2024 .
2018-2023 – Menopause Mission
- BBC One doc The Truth About The Menopause – 3 million viewers, triggered national conversation.
- Book: Cracking the Menopause – Sunday Times bestseller, translated into 12 languages.
2024-2025 – Government Ambassador & Trustee
- October 2024: appointed UK Menopause Employment Ambassador—works with independent Menopause Advisory Group to keep menopausal women in work .
- May 2025: became V&A Trustee for three-year term, first non-elected member of Royal Academy Council to serve full six years .
- July 2024-present: regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women—brings arts-and-activism edge to lunchtime chat .
Personal Life
Married human-rights lawyer Jason McCue in 2003 after meeting on a Nepal charity trek; they live in a converted Somerset farmhouse near Bruton with two teenagers, hens and a lurcher named Brontë. Close friends include Penny Smith and Gina Bellman; she narrates the London Overground lift announcements and collects single-malt whiskies from every country she reports in.
Awards & Achievements
- Honorary Doctorate – Nottingham Trent University (2008) for journalism & broadcasting .
- Evening Standard British Film Awards – judge (multiple years) .
- Royal Society of Literature – Fellow .
- BAFTA member – voting & events .
- 2025: Government Menopause Employment Ambassador – landmark policy role .
Physical Statistics
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | ≈ 128 lb (58 kg) (est.) |
| Dress Size | 10 UK |
| Shoe | 7 UK |
| Hair | Brunette |
| Eyes | Brown |
| Trademark | Deep, husky “sexiest female voice on TV” (2005 poll) |
Quotes
“Menopause isn’t a women’s issue—it’s an economic issue. Keep us in work and GDP goes up.”
“I’ve spent my life turning pages—first books, now policy. Same skill: read carefully, ask the next question.”
“My voice once got me voted sexiest on telly; now it gets ministers to pick up the phone.”
Controversies
- 2008 disability-settlement row – BBC paid undisclosed sum after editors pulled gary o’donoghue (her friend) off TV; she publicly backed him, calling it “institutional blindness” [BBC archives].
- 2022 menopause-brand clash – U.S. author accused Menopause Mandate (co-founded by Frostrup) of “monetising mid-life”; she responded with open letter stressing free resources .
Favorites
| Category | Choice |
|---|---|
| Whisky | Lagavulin 16 (Islay peat) |
| Book | The Secret History (Donna Tartt) |
| Countryside Charity | CPRE Somerset (she’s President) |
| Podcast | Bringing Up Britain (her own BBC R4 series) |
| High-street Brand | Me+Em (ambassador-style tailoring) |
| Relaxation | Long walks with lurcher Brontë across Hauser & Wirth Somerset fields |
Salary & Net Worth 2025
- BBC/Times Radio residuals + speaking: ≈ £300 k yr
- Book royalties & advances: £200 k
- Ambassador & trustee stipends: £50 k
- Property (Somerset farm + London flat): £2.5 M equity
- Estimated Net Worth: £4 million ($5 million)
Interesting Facts
- Voice of London Overground lifts – “Mind the gap” never sounded sexier .
- Once bungee-jumped off Chelsea Bridge for a Channel 4 music show .
- Narrated Disney nature doc The Crimson Wing about flamingos—David Attenborough approved.
- Has four siblings and counts Gina Bellman (Coupling) as bestie—they cameo’d together .
- Keeps a “menopause manifesto” notebook—hands it to MPs after Westminster round-tables.
Social Media Links
| Platform | Handle | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @mariellafrostrup | 52 k | |
| Twitter / X | @mariellaf | 78 k |
| Mariella Frostrup | 1 k | |
| V&A Trustees | vam.ac.uk/about-us/governance | — |
FAQs
Q1: How old is Mariella Frostrup in 2025?
A: 63 – born 12 November 1962.
Q2: What is she doing now?
A: UK Government Menopause Employment Ambassador, V&A Trustee, Loose Women panellist and writing sequel Tengo 60… ¿Y Qué? .
Q3: Who is her husband?
A: Jason McCue, human-rights lawyer; married 2003, two children .
Q4: Did she really present Live Aid?
A: She coordinated PR for Live Aid at Wembley (1985) while at Phonogram Records—not on-air presenter .
Q5: Where does she live?
A: Near Bruton, Somerset – farmhouse + London flat .
Conclusion
From Oslo cradle to Somerset farm, Mariella Frostrup has turned pages into policy and broadcast bars into boardrooms. As 2025’s Menopause Ambassador and V&A trustee, she keeps rewriting the script for mid-life women—proving a husky voice can still shake the establishment.
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