Trailblazing Northamptonshire sports broadcaster awarded Freedom of the City of London

Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Alison Mitchell, who grew up in Wollaston and attended Wellingborough School, became the first British woman to commentate on the BBC’s Test Match Special in 2007, building a listener relationship that now spans nearly 20 years.

Extending her love of cricket to charitable works, Alison is a former trustee of The Johnners Trust and a patron of the MCC Foundation, and currently serves as an independent non-executive director at Sport Resolutions in the City of London.

Now living in London, she was nominated for the Freedom by City of London Corporation by elected Members, Deputy Andrien Meyers and Alderman Prem Goyal.

Alison said: “I moved to London for broadcasting purposes in my 20s when there were no women doing lead commentary on mainstream sport that I was aware of.

“This great city has been my home ever since, with many happy hours spent in commentary boxes at Lord’s and the Oval, as well as Wimbledon. Of course, the city was at its absolute finest during London 2012, which remains a career highlight for me.

“The Freedom of the City of London is something that I never ever expected to be given. It is truly humbling to be recognised in this way, and I thank Andrien Meyers and Prem Goyal for my nomination. This is an extremely special day, both, for me, and my family and friends who have supported me so much over the years.”

Alison’s parents John and Kath, still live in the county and her dad shared his pride at their pioneering daughter’s achievement.

He said: “I am very proud of her achievements and the well-deserved recognition.”

Alison was head girl in the 6th year in 1998 at Wellingborough School. She then gained a geography degree at Nottingham University and later a Broadcast Journalist post grad degree at Falmouth.

Starting in cricket, Alison expanded into top-level tennis and golf, and was BBC Radio 5 Live’s artistic gymnastics commentator across three Olympic Games, including London 2012.

In 2014, she became the first woman to deliver ball-by-ball cricket commentary for Australia’s ABC and three years later, the first woman to commentate a televised men’s Ashes series for BT Sport.

Alison now works regularly with Channel Seven in Australia, covers men’s and women’s ICC World Cups and tennis Grand Slams, presents the BBC’s Stumped podcast and remains a key voice on Test Match Special. She also lends her voice to Channel 4’s Crufts coverage.

City of London Corporation policy chairman, Chris Hayward, said: “Alison Mitchell punched through the glass ceiling and has established herself as a hugely knowledgeable and versatile sports commentator, respected by her colleagues in the broadcasting industry and millions of sports fans at home and abroad.

“By helping establish female voices in lead sports commentary as the ‘new normal’, Alison deserves our praise and admiration, and it is entirely fitting that we admit her into the Freedom.”

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to ‘carry out their trade’.

Recent notable recipients include Gloria Hunniford, Cate Blanchett, Ken Follett, Ray Winstone and Penny Lancaster.