BBC Sports Alex Scott is a trailblazing sports presenter and pundit who has achieved several historic milestones. She was the first female pundit at a men’s World Cup and the first permanent female host on the BBC show, Football Focus.
Scott is currently leading the BBC’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, another major career highlight for her. But while her media career is mostly public knowledge, there are some lesser-known facts about her that you may not know yet.
Below are five interesting facts about the iconic sports broadcasters:
1. She suffered from a speech impediment as a child
Alex Scott has been outspoken about her tough childhood, which included a speech impediment when she was a child. The BBC sports presenter, who also has dyslexia, revealed that the condition left her struggling to form words or sentences.
She underwent speech therapy when she was younger, which helped her manage the condition. However, she has revealed that she still experiences challenges pronouncing some words, which forces her to work extra hard to memorize them before getting on camera.
2. She is a former professional football player
Before becoming a sports broadcaster, Alex Scott was a professional footballer. She started playing with the Arsenal Women’s academy when she was eight years old.
Scott won 19 major titles with Arsenal, including the 2006/07 UEFA Women’s Cup (now UEFA Women’s Champions League). She also represented the England Women’s national team at the international level.
3. She holds a degree in broadcasting
Alex Scott planned for a post-retirement career in media. She holds a degree in Sports Writing and Broadcasting from Staffordshire University, which she completed during her time at Arsenal.
In addition to her broadcasting degree, Scott was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Herefordshire in 2021. Additionally, she received an Honorary Fellowship from Queen Mary University of London in 2023.
4. She is the first English-speaking commentator in EA Sports FC
Alex Scott achieved another historic milestone in 2021 when she appeared as a commentator on EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA). She became the first female English-speaking commentator to be featured in the video game franchise.
She termed her inclusion in the video game franchise as a “game-changing” and “stratospheric” moment, which she hoped would open doors for more women. She has continued to appear as a commentator in subsequent EA Sports FC releases.
5. She is dating British singer-songwriter Jess Glynne
The BBC Sports pundit is openly queer and in a relationship with British singer-songwriter Jess Glynne. The couple went public with their relationship in 2023 and have been together since.
Scott does not label her sexuality and has been open about dating both men and women, including her former Arsenal teammate Kelly Smith. During her time on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, she revealed that marriage was on the cards for her and Jess Glyne.