India Willoughby Biography: Son, Partner, Tv Shows, Controversy, Age, Transgender, Height, Awards, Instagram

India Willoughby is an English newsreader, broadcaster and reality-television personality who first became widely known when she presented on the national daily news for Channel 5, becoming Britain’s first transgender national television newsreader.

Her career also includes making history as the first transgender co-host of the all-women talk show Loose Women, and taking part in the reality show Celebrity Big Brother in its “Year of the Woman” edition, where her presence sparked broader public conversations about gender, identity and representation.

Profile

• Full name: India Scarlett Willoughby
• Date of birth: 2 September 1965
• Age: 60 years old
• Gender: Female (transgender woman)
• Place of birth: London, England
• Nationality: British
• Profession: Newsreader, broadcaster, journalist, reality television personality
• Height: 5 ft 4 in (approx. 162.5 cm)
• Weight: 59 kg (approx.)
• Eye colour: Blue
• Hair colour: Blonde/light (varies)
• Parents: N/A
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: One son, named Rhodes
• Relationship status: N/A
• Religion: Christian
• Ethnicity: White British
• Net worth: USD 13.6 million

Early Life and education

India Scarlett Willoughby was born on 2 September 1965 in London, England, and is now 60 years old. She spent much of her upbringing in Carlisle, Cumbria, after the family moved there during her early years. Details about her formal schooling are limited; she has stated she attended Trinity School in Carlisle for part of her secondary education. Willoughby later ventured in journalism and broadcasting, training for her career in news-reporting and television.

Personal Life

India Willoughby’s personal journey includes her transition from male to female. Before transitioning, she worked as a news presenter under her birth name “Jonathan Willoughby”. She has one son, Rhodes, who she has publicly said became estranged for a period after her participation on Celebrity Big Brother.

Between 2010 and 2015 she lived a dual life—working during the week under her female identity and returning home on weekends under her prior male identity until her full transition.

Career

India Willoughby began her career in regional news reporting, working for ITV Border where she presented news for the North East and Cumbria region prior to her transition. In 2016 she returned to broadcasting as a freelance reporter for ITV Tyne Tees. In 2017 she made history by joining the national news outlet Channel 5’s lunchtime and evening news bulletins, becoming Britain’s first transgender national television newsreader. That same year she appeared as a panellist on the talk show Loose Women, and subsequently co-hosted it—another first for a transgender woman.

In January 2018 she entered the reality show Celebrity Big Brother (UK) in its “Year of the Woman” edition. She was the first contestant to be evicted on Day 11, and claimed later that she was misgendered repeatedly inside the house. Since then, she has continued to work in broadcast media, comment on trans rights issues, and engage in advocacy—for example she became patron of the professional rugby league club Keighley Cougars, the first trans person to hold that position.

Awards

• 2017 – Winner, Diversity in Media Award for “Media Moment of the Year (Loose Women)”.
• Nominations – British LGBT Awards nominee (2017)

Net worth

India Willoughby’s net worth is estimated at USD 13.6 million. Her income has derived from her career in broadcast journalism, appearances on reality television, talk-show hosting, speaking engagements and advocacy work.

Controversy

India Willoughby’s high-profile status has involved multiple controversies. During her time on Celebrity Big Brother, she alleged she was misgendered nearly a hundred times by fellow contestants. She has also made remarks such as comparing drag performance to blackface, comments that generated backlash within queer and trans communities.

In 2023 she was targeted with a death threat via a letter that triggered a Counter-Terrorism Command investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

In early 2024 she publicly clashed with author J.K. Rowling when Rowling deliberately misgendered her in a tweet; Willoughby reported the incident, although police said her case did not meet the criminal threshold.

Social Media

• Instagram: @IndiaWilloughby
• Twitter/X: @IndiaWilloughby

Filmography

• Celebrity Big Brother (UK) (TV Show)
• Bits & Pieces / 5 News Presenter (TV)
• Loose Women (TV) guest and later co-host