Why Sarah-Jane Crawford is One to Watch
With a varied career that has taken in presenting at music festivals and on TV, to now running her own beauty brand, is there nothing Sarah-Jane Crawford can’t do?
At Absolutely, we always seek out individuals who inspire and uplift, embodying ambition and joy in everything they do. To kick off our 2025 profiles, we couldn’t think of anyone better than Sarah-Jane Crawford – someone who embraces every opportunity with passion and a fearless drive to make her mark.
The Bowdon local is one of the leading lights of UK TV and radio, having spent the last 15 years at the helm of her craft. With the genesis of her career being a long-term partnership with Channel 4 on its iconic T4 and E4 music youth programming strands, she then navigated an eight-year stint as a radio host on BBC’s Radio 1 and 1Xtra, as well as presenting as a VJ on several of MTV’s channels. As a result, she cemented herself as a beloved and familiar personality in the homes of today’s millennials.
Early Life and Inspirations
It was a varied start to her career, which perhaps mirrors Sarah-Jane’s own start to life. “My childhood was full of a lot of love and security,” she smiles. “I say this because I was adopted a few months old and I really feel like it was a huge blessing to be part of a family who really wanted children and were in a position to look after them to the best of their ability.
“My dad, who adopted me with my mum, sadly passed away when I was a young girl, so that was pretty traumatic and I think affected the way that I now relate to anxiety here and there, but outside of that I really enjoyed school and felt like I had lots of meaningful friendships.
“I spent time in South London and then moved out to the countryside, so I’ve had lots of different experiences in my childhood.”
A Performer at Heart
At this stage, did she show a penchant for what would come in her future career? “I loved the idea of performing and the entertainment industry, and from as young as my eldest daughter is now I was in love with the reruns of that TV adaptation of FAME. I would put on shows in my living room to emulate the characters.
“When I got to 18, just before I did the reality show Shipwrecked and halfway through my university degree, my mum made me laugh as she said ‘You should do something that involves you talking for a living, that would work well’.
“As a young girl, I had wanted to be an actress, but I also liked the idea of being a louder, more flamboyant version of myself – someone that was able to share stories and have conversations on air. I’ve also always been interested in people and understanding what makes them tick (I studied sociology and psychology at A-level to get it out of my system), so to be able to sit down and interview people was always inherently very interesting to me.”
Career Highlights
As part of her work with T4 and E4, she found herself on plenty of red carpets, meeting the great and the good of the world of celebrity. Did anyone really stand out back then? “I will never forget the interview with Robert De Niro mainly because it made me giggle to see the producer starstruck,” she laughs. “It was wonderful to see everyone appreciating the presence of such a legendary actor – even though he didn’t say much during the interview!”
Her career continued to evolve, and she presented as a co-host on two seasons of World’s Strongest Man for Channel 5 and three years hosting The MOBO Awards for ITV and BBC One. “I’ve grown up being obsessed with the MOBOs, so to host them on three different occasions – once with a Spice Girl (Mel B), another time with the legendary Trevor Nelson, and once on my own – were lovely moments. I also hosted what used to be called T in the Park with Greg James and recently did a private DJ gig at Glastonbury, which was another highlight,” she adds about her musical standouts.
Family and New Ventures
Today, as a mum of two (she is married to Brian Barry-Murphy, a well-known football coach and manager), family is helping to shape her even more. “I think it allowed me to focus on someone else that wasn’t me in a very well-rounded way,” she says on becoming a mother.
“Motherhood made me less self-obsessed and also allowed me to not take it so personally if I’d receive a rejection in the industry, particularly as I get so much fulfilment from my family.
“It was also the reason why I started my own non-toxic brand, Clean Curls,” she adds. “Firstly, I wanted my kids to see that I was happy with what God had given me, my curls, and stopped straightening my hair, and secondly I wanted to create a product that was clean enough and safe enough to also use on them. Becoming a founder and a business owner of a product now on the shelves in-store has been a hugely rewarding process, which I probably needed at this time in my life after 17 years of the entertainment industry.”
A Day in the Life
Today, Sarah-Jane hosts daily shows on Bauer Media’s Hits Radio, and is a regular face presenting VTs and hosting items for BBC One’s Morning Live and Sunday Morning Live. She shares what a typical day looks like:
“A typical day would be to walk the dog, try to get the gym done, and then get the kids ready for school. Brian is normally on food duty and sorts out breakfast, and I am getting them clean, ready, and of course sorting out their hair,” she smiles.
“After they have been dropped off, I will do some work on my brand, speak to some of my contractors, my manufacturer, my buyers, and later on in the day I head over to Hits Radio. My husband and I take turns picking up the kids from nursery school, depending on our work schedules. There will be occasions where I will be filming a show, so will be out of action and consumed in that morning until night or maybe by a brand campaign. And same for Brian, as he’s a football manager, they will often travel and be away.”
Life in Bowdon
Sarah-Jane currently lives in Bowdon but is preparing to move. “We just sold a house and we’re about to move into a new one literally two minutes down the road, but a new-build version. While waiting for our new house to be ready, we’re temporarily in Didsbury, which has been a refreshing change from Altrincham.”
2025 and Beyond
With plenty on the slate for 2025, Sarah-Jane shares her plans: “I’ve recorded a couple of TV shows that are airing in the new year, so I’m excited for those. More fun with my weekly shows on Hits Radio, I’m launching a podcast, and my brand Clean Curls will continue to grow, so watch this space.”
As a wife, mother, and creator, it’s clear Sarah-Jane stands up for what she believes in, embodying and promoting authenticity, self-love, clean living, positive body image, and integrity. She’s truly one to watch.
