Roisin McAuley grew up in a big family in a small town in County Tyrone in the 1950s, went to a convent boarding school and then to Queen's University, Belfast, to study history. She joined the BBC in Northern Ireland as a newsreader and announcer, going on to become a reporter for several top BBC programs. She has also produced and directed several television documentaries and written and presented programs on BBC Radio. She lives in Reading, Berkshire, with her husband, Richard.