Sky Sports Presenter Who Gave Lionel Messi First Ballon d’Or Now Lives Different Life

Former Sky Sports presenter Charlotte Jackson Coleman now lives a life that is worlds apart from her days as a journalist and sports broadcaster, when she regularly rubbed shoulders with Premier League footballers. The 47-year-old was a much-loved household name on TV between 2009 and 2015.

During her broadcasting career, she covered the 2012 Olympics, numerous Champions League fixtures, and interviewed many of the Premier League’s top stars. She also co-presented Sky Sports’ football quiz show ‘Take It Like a Fan’ with John Fendley, touring grounds across the country to quiz supporters. In 2010, she also fronted ITV’s primetime adventure show ’71 Degrees North’ alongside Paddy McGuinness, showcasing her versatility as a presenter.

At the height of Sky Sports’ popularity, when its 24-hour rolling coverage was at its peak, Jackson looked destined to become one of the defining voices of British television for years to come. But the COVID-19 pandemic proved a turning point, prompting her – like so many others – to reassess her true ambitions and follow a very different path.

Jackson Presented Lionel Messi With His First Ballon d’Or

In a recent interview with The Sun, Jackson – who is married to former Sunderland and Wales manager Chris Coleman – admitted she loved her years as a sports presenter. But it wasn’t until she stepped away from the relentless ebb and flow of the job that she fully appreciated just how much she had achieved.

Looking back on some of the lesser-known highlights from her broadcasting career, she recalled being the presenter who handed Lionel Messi – widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time – his very first of a record eight Ballon d’Or mantles in 2009 (see her photo below). “I did love my job. I love working in sport. It’s not until I look back and think, ‘oh my God, I did that,'” she said.

She added: “It’s not until I look back that I realise what a momentous occasion that was. My son’s even used the photo for a presentation at school about Messi.”

The glittering end-of-season ceremony was co-hosted by Pedro Pinto and featured a star-studded audience, including Cristiano Ronaldo and female superstar Marta, whom Charlotte interviewed on stage after she collected her fifth Best Player in the World award. But having already reached the very top of one profession, Jackson has since climbed to the summit of another.

Charlotte Jackson Has Reinvented Herself as an Actress

Jackson has ditched the TV studio for a shot at Hollywood in what she calls the most demanding role of her career. The psychological thriller ‘Secrets’, released on Prime Video on August 19, stars Charlotte, 47, in the lead role as single mum Sammy, a determined woman set on uncovering the murky goings-on in her hometown.

It is her first lead role since pursuing an acting career in 2020, and it hasn’t come easy. She retrained, tackled small independent projects, and slowly built a fresh career from the ground up – a journey that was far from straightforward. “Auditions were emotionally draining, and the early jobs paid very little,” she said, as per The Mirror.

Her ultimate ambition was to star in a Coben drama herself, while also working alongside celebrated British directors like Philip Barantini and Daniel O’Hara, which she has now achieved thanks to the British thriller. She credits a chance meeting with former Lionsgate UK boss Nick Manzi for inspiring her to pursue acting with genuine intent.

After first appearing in ‘Keith Lemon: The Film’, Manzi famously nicknamed her “One Take Jackson” and encouraged her to explore dramatic roles. Yet it wasn’t until relocating to China – where her husband was coaching Hebei China Fortune – that she truly began her training in earnest.

While she occasionally wonders what might have been had she started sooner, Jackson is convinced that her life experiences – particularly the high-pressure world of live sport – have sharpened her abilities as a performer. For her, this is no mere detour; it feels like the opening act of a very promising new chapter.

Andy Gray Incident

During her time as a presenter, Jackson also made headlines after an incident with fellow Sky Sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys. Gray was sacked by Sky Sports after an off-air clip emerged of him engaging in what his employer has deemed to be “unacceptable behaviour” towards the female presenter.

Per The Telegraph, while Jackson was attaching a microphone pack, Gray lifted his belt and said: “Charlotte, can you tuck this down here for me.” The comment was ignored by Jackson, but it did appear to provoke a giggle from his fellow presenter. Both Gray and Keys were already in hot water at the time, having been heard making derogatory comments about female referees.

This was the final nail in their careers at Sky Sports.