Broadcaster Kirsty Young has revealed the husky voice that has made her so distinctive has left some believing she is a man

• The Scot says whenever she orders from hotel room service, staff refer to her as ‘sir’ 
• But 54-year-old Kirsty insists she will stick with her voice though as ‘it’s the only one I’ve got’ 

Her husky voice has made her a distinctive broadcaster for decades.

But now Kirsty Young has revealed she is constantly mistaken for a man when speaking on the phone because of it.

The 54-year-old is known for her dulcet tones but said it causes confusion when she orders room service in hotels.

The former Desert Island Discs and Channel 5 News presenter said she is always called ‘sir’ by staff after she places her order.

Ms Young said she finds the mix-ups funny and has never tried to change her voice.

Speaking on the Adam Buxton podcast, she said: ‘I have a bit of a husky voice.

Kirsty’s husky voice has made her a distinctive broadcaster for decades.

‘Whenever I’m staying in hotels, if I order room service, and this has never not happened to me, they say “That will be with you in about 30 minutes sir”.

‘It’s never not happened to me.

‘Does my voice sound slightly not one thing or the other? I don’t know, it’s the voice I’ve got.

‘If people want to talk about my voice that’s fine as long as they are not saying horrible things in which case I’ll pretend I can’t hear it.

‘I’ll stick with it because it’s the only one I’ve got.’

Ms Young said the only time she has been offended by a comment about her voice was when a colleague at Channel 5 asked if she was going to present the news using it.

She added: ‘I was talking to this woman who was a film producer.

‘Towards the end of the conversation she said “Are you going to do it in that voice?”.

‘I think she meant my accent but that’s probably the rudest anyone has ever been.’

The broadcaster, who has two daughters with her husband Nick Jones, was born in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, and attended Stirling High School.

She began her career on BBC Radio Scotland, and went on to become one of the best known faces – and voices – in the country, presenting both Crimewatch and Desert Island Discs.

Last year she led coverage of the Queen’s funeral service for the BBC.

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