Steph McGovern Designed Her Own ‘Girly Swot’ Jumper For Have I Got News For You - And Now You Can Own One

Her top was a nod to Boris Johnson’s much derided insult to David Cameron.

Not content with landing her very own Channel 4 show, Steph McGovern proved exactly why she’s in such demand after another hugely successful stint in the hosting chair of Have I Got News For You on Friday.

The BBC Breakfast host wore a jumper emblazoned with the words ‘Girly Swot’ for her appearance on the BBC Two comedy quiz show - a nod to Boris Johnson’s much derided insult to David Cameron.

Steph McGovern
Steph McGovern
BBC

Steph had previously referenced the phrase at an event in Rotherham after it emerged that the PM once described Cameron as a “girly swot” – a comment critics branded sexist.

With Johnson having just given a speech about transport in the north, Steph – who was hosting the event – took to the stage.

“Thank you very much there to our Northern Powerhouse minister and the prime minister there. Can you just put your hands together to say thanks to them?,” she addressed the audience.

“I’d just like to point out – I am a girly swot and I’m proud of it. Let’s see who’s in their job the longest.”

Steph - and her jumper - went down a storm with viewers…

I’m only ten minutes in to this week’s #HIGNFY and it’s such a great and funny episode already, a really good line-up and @stephbreakfast is just completely brilliant.

— Victoria Coren Mitchell (@VictoriaCoren) October 25, 2019

You smashed it last night! It was a vintage ep. And 👏👏👏👏 Mobbsy you sickeningly talented 15 year old 🤮

— Nina Warhurst (@NinaWarhurst) October 26, 2019

Loved the show last night you were fab !

— Donna (@cumminsdonna7) October 26, 2019

Watching #HIGNFY and I want Steph McGovern’s top #GirlySwot

— Helen Whittaker (@WhittakerHelen) October 25, 2019

WHERE DO I GET STEPH MCGOVERN'S JUMPER? #HIGNFY

— Dr Ros Clarke (@ros_clarke) October 25, 2019

With so many people asking where they could get their hands on one of the jumpers, Steph later confirmed her top, which was deigned by her and a friend, was now available to order, with £5 from every sale going to charity.

The #GirlySwot jumper....designed by @jamesmobbs +me, you can now get from @balconyshirts.

£5 of each sold will go to @Rubiescharity — helping to build confidence in young girls.

Just to reiterate - I am not making any money from this! https://t.co/XmnvJmlZrX pic.twitter.com/KKRosTCvlp

— Steph McGovern (@stephbreakfast) October 25, 2019

Earlier this week, the BBC confirmed the presenter would be leaving the weekday breakfast show to front her own show on Channel 4 in 2020.

Following the announcement, Steph, who is expecting her first child, shared a farewell message on Twitter, thanking the BBC Breakfast team.

Warning her followers of a “mush alert”, the 37-year-old said: “First up I want to thank BBC Breakfast… my home for over 8 years. It’s mushy, but the wonderful team on the show have been an extended family to me.”

She then thanked her co-hosts, Dan Walker, Naga Munchetty and Louise Minchin, writing: “Whatever is happening in each of our lives, we’ve covered for each other, fought for each other and of course regularly taken the mick out of each other too.”

Mush alert, but just a few words I wanted to say to the @BBCBreakfast gang on my departure from the show. pic.twitter.com/CpFKHVNaB5

— Steph McGovern (@stephbreakfast) October 22, 2019

She also thanked viewers for “getting me through the ups and the downs too. Always making me feel welcome in your homes. And I haven’t tired of ‘I often wake up with you’ being one of the common things said to me in the street!’

Steph signed off by saying: “Time to hang up my Breakfast hard hat and hi-vis. And say, thank YOU.”

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