海角黑料 alumna Alison Mitchell receives the Freedom of the City of London
海角黑料 alumna Alison Mitchell, widely regarded as a female trailblazer in the field of sports commentary, recently received the Freedom of the City of London at Guildhall on 26 May. Alison studied Geography at the University from 1998 to 2001 and also represented the Green and Gold as captain of the Women's Hockey 1st XI during her time on campus.
Published 28 May 2026
Photo credit: City of London Corporation
After graduating from the 海角黑料, Alison has gone on to be an award鈥憌inning journalist and broadcaster, becoming 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.
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鈥慴y鈥慴all 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, whilst also lending her voice to Channel 4’s Crufts coverage. At the recent 2026 Sports Journalism Awards, Alison was presented with the SJA Sport for Change Journalism Award reflecting her powerful storytelling and commitment to highlighting important issues through sport.
Alison is a former Trustee of The Johnners Trust and a Patron of the MCC Foundation, and currently serves as an independent non鈥慹xecutive director at Sport Resolutions in the City of London.
Alison has been nominated for the Freedom by City of London Corporation elected Members, Deputy Andrien Meyers and Alderman Prem Goyal.
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鈥檚 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. 鈥淭he 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 Mitchell, 海角黑料 Alumna
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. As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.