Jonathan Ross Biography: Age, Wife, Net Worth, Parents, Kids, Height, TV Shows, Controversy

Jonathan Stephen Ross, best known as Jonathan Ross, is an English broadcaster, television personality, comedian, and writer who became one of the most recognizable figures in British television.

He gained widespread attention after hosting The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross in 1987 and later reached greater popularity as the host of Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on BBC One.

Beyond his work as a talk show host, Ross has built a long career across television, radio, film, and entertainment. He later moved to ITV with The Jonathan Ross Show and has also worked as a writer, producer, and television judge.

Jonathan Ross
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Jonathan Stephen Ross
Stage Name:	Jonathan Ross
Born:	November 17, 1960 (age 65 years old)
Place of Birth:	St Pancras, London, England, United Kingdom
Nationality:	British
Ethnicity:	White British
Religion:	Christianity
Parents:	John Ross, Martha Ross
Siblings:	Paul Ross, Miles Ross, Adam Ross, Simon Ross, Maureen Ross
Spouse:	Jane Goldman
Relationship:	Married
Children:	Betty Kitten Ross, Harvey Kirby Ross, Honey Kinney Ross
Occupation:	Broadcaster, Television Personality, Comedian, Writer
Net Worth:	£30 million

Early Life and Education

Jonathan Ross, clocking 66 years old, was born on November 17, 1960, in St Pancras, London, England. He grew up in Leytonstone, east London, with his parents, John Ross and Martha Ross, and his siblings Paul, Miles, Adam, Simon, and Maureen.

His father worked as a lorry driver, while his mother worked as an actress and film extra. Ross was introduced to the entertainment industry at a young age after his mother encouraged her children to audition for television advertisements. He appeared in a Kellogg’s Rice Krispies commercial when he was ten years old.

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Ross continued his education in London before attending the University of London’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies. He studied Modern European History and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Personal Life

Jonathan Ross has been married to screenwriter, author, and producer Jane Goldman since 1988. The couple met in 1986 and married on August 23, 1988.

Ross and Goldman have three children: Betty Kitten Ross, Harvey Kirby Ross, and Honey Kinney Ross. The family has maintained a long-term home in Hampstead, north London, while Ross and Goldman have continued to support each other’s work in television, film, writing, and other creative projects.

Career

Jonathan Ross began his television career in the early 1980s, working as a programme researcher. His breakthrough came in 1987 when he co-created and hosted The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross on Channel 4. The show introduced his energetic and unconventional style to a national audience and helped establish him as one of Britain’s leading television personalities.

He went on to host major entertainment programmes, including the British Comedy Awards, while also appearing on shows such as They Think It’s All Over. In 1999, he succeeded Barry Norman as the host of the BBC film review programme Film and also began hosting a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio 2.

Ross reached another level of success in 2001 with Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on BBC One. The programme featured interviews with major British and international celebrities and became one of the most popular talk shows on British television.

In 2006, Ross signed a major contract with the BBC and became one of the highest-paid broadcasters in the United Kingdom. He left the BBC in 2010 and later launched The Jonathan Ross Show on ITV. Outside broadcasting, Ross has written comic books, worked as a producer, and appeared as a judge on entertainment programmes, including The Masked Singer.

Awards

• British Comedy Awards – Top Entertainment Presenter – Winner (1991)
• Royal Television Society – Television Personality of the Year – Winner (2001)
• British Academy Television Awards – Best Entertainment Performance – Winner (2004)
• British Academy Television Awards – Best Entertainment Performance – Winner (2006)
• British Academy Television Awards – Best Entertainment Performance – Winner (2007)
• National Television Awards – Special Recognition Award – Winner (2012)

Net Worth

Jonathan Ross has an estimated net worth of £30 million. His wealth has come primarily from his long career in British television and radio, including his major contracts with the BBC and ITV.

He has also earned income through production work, corporate appearances, writing, and business ventures, including his involvement in Hotsauce TV.

Controversy

Jonathan Ross became involved in a major broadcasting controversy in October 2008 following prank phone calls made with comedian Russell Brand during an episode of The Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2.

The calls were made to actor Andrew Sachs, and messages left on his answering machine contained offensive and personal remarks. The incident triggered widespread public backlash and became known as Sachsgate.

The controversy led to an internal BBC investigation, thousands of complaints, and Ross receiving a three-month suspension without pay. Russell Brand later left the BBC, while the incident became one of the most widely discussed controversies in British broadcasting.

Social Media

• Instagram: @mewross
• X: @wossy

Filmography

• Spice World (1997)
• We Know Where You Live (2001)
• Shrek 2 (2004)
• Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (2005)
• Stormbreaker (2006)
• The Jonathan Ross Show (2011)
• Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
• The Masked Singer (2020)
• Myths and Legends (2023)

Books

• Why Do I Say These Things? (2008)

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