Education
Graduating with honours in 1975, he was selected as scholar of the Street Andrews Society of New York, and then studied for a Masters at Princeton University combining literature, theatre and politics.
Graduating with honours in 1975, he was selected as scholar of the Street Andrews Society of New York, and then studied for a Masters at Princeton University combining literature, theatre and politics.
After being educated at Perth Academy, he took a degree in English at the University of Aberdeen. Having been offered the opportunity to join the British Broadcasting Corporation"s journalistic training programme in 1975, after completing his one-year Master of Arts, he joined the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1976 as a trainee journalist. On qualification, he became a British Broadcasting Corporation television news scriptwriter, and then a reporter for IRN/LBC. After helping to start the independent Radio Tay in Dundee, he then freelanced for mostly British news outlets in California for 6 years until 1987.
Joining British Broadcasting Corporation News, Sharp was the channel"s correspondent in California and the Pacific Northwest.
Returning to British Broadcasting Corporation News, when the corporation started the news and sport station Radio 5 Live in 1994, Sharp came up with the idea for the night programme. Since its launch he has been one of the two regular presenters.
The Washington Post once described the show as probably the best night-time radio show in the world. In 2001 Sharp was on the second commercial flight to New York City after 11 September to give in-depth analysis of the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
He also presented 5 Live"s programmes on the American presidential and congressional elections.
He has become instrumental in giving wider coverage on British radio of sports like baseball and American football, presenting its live broadcasts of the World Series and the Super Bowl. Since 2004 he has presented his part of the show (Monday to Wednesday), from the town. Initially using the studio"s and Integrated Services Digital Network line of local radio station WESX to connect him to Broadcasting House, London, since 2007 he has presented the show from a home-studio within the couple"s 18th-century property.
Broadcasting from the United States makes Sharp “pretty unique” among British Broadcasting Corporation radio hosts, according to British Broadcasting Corporation deputy news director Stephen Mitchell.
