Jake Humphrey has spent more than two decades telling stories on screen, first for children on CBBC, then from the pit lane of Formula One and the studios of BT Sport. But his biggest shift came in May 2023, when he announced he was stepping back from live sports presenting after 10 years at BT Sport to concentrate on the High Performance Podcast and a growing slate of entrepreneurial projects. This guide traces his career path, explains why he left BT Sport, and looks at what he is building now.

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Born: 7 October 1978 ·
Known for: BBC Formula One coverage, CBBC, BT Sport, High Performance Podcast ·
Career span: 2001–present (broadcaster, author, entrepreneur) ·
Notable role: Host of BBC’s F1 coverage (2009–2012) ·
Podcast co-founder: High Performance Podcast (with Damian Hughes)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth figure not publicly verified
  • Detailed ownership structure of the podcast company not fully disclosed
  • Specific income from keynote speaking engagements unknown
3Timeline signal
  • 2001: Begins CBBC presenting
  • 2009–2012: BBC F1 host
  • 2013: Joins BT Sport
  • 2023: Departs BT Sport after 10 years
4What’s next
  • Full-time podcast host and keynote speaker
  • Expanding High Performance Foundation
  • Author and business mentor

Seven key facts about Jake Humphrey show the breadth of his career.

Label Value
Full name Jacob John Humphrey
Date of birth 7 October 1978
Birthplace Peterborough, England
Spouse Harriet Humphrey
Children Two
Notable TV roles CBBC presenter, BBC F1 host, BT Sport host
Podcast High Performance Podcast (since 2019)

What is Jake Humphrey doing now?

Since stepping back from daily sports presenting, Humphrey has focused on three main ventures: the High Performance Podcast, its charitable arm, and a schedule of keynote speeches and writing.

High Performance Podcast and Foundation

Humphrey co-founded the High Performance Podcast in 2019 with sports psychologist Damian Hughes (co-host and behavioural expert). The show has grown into a brand that includes live events, online courses, and a book published in 2021. In 2022, they launched the High Performance Foundation, a separate charitable entity. The foundation’s mission, according to its official site, is to “make high performance accessible to everyone” through community programmes.

The upshot

Humphrey transformed a side project into a full-time business. The podcast is no longer a hobby — it is the engine of his post-TV career.

Keynote speaking and writing

Humphrey’s speaker agency lists him as a keynote speaker on topics of resilience, leadership, and high performance. He has also authored High Performance (2021) and contributed to other publications. The High Performance site describes him as a “presenter, entrepreneur and investor.” His speaking fees are not publicly disclosed, but agencies typically charge between £5,000 and £20,000 per event for figures of his profile.

Community work with Norwich City

Humphrey is an ambassador for Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (the club’s official charity). He has supported their programmes using sport to improve health, education, and social inclusion. This mirrors his earlier involvement with the Norwich City Foundation, which he spoke about in a 2024 LinkedIn post: “I had to leave Norwich to fully focus on family and High Performance.”

Bottom line: Humphrey is no longer a TV anchor first. He runs a media and education brand built on the podcast, supported by speaking and charitable work. For fans of his broadcasting, the shift is complete; for followers of the High Performance brand, the growth is deliberate.

Why did Jake Humphrey leave BT Sport?

On 19 May 2023, Humphrey announced he would step back from his lead presenting role at BT Sport after a decade. His final broadcast was the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan on 10 June 2023 (BBC Sport (UK public service broadcaster)). The move was framed as a “step back” rather than a retirement from media.

Career shift and podcast focus

Humphrey told The Mirror (UK national newspaper) that the High Performance Podcast had changed his perspective. “The lads-y banter aspect of football presenting was not for me anymore,” he said. He admitted that returning to a studio felt harder after building a show driven by deep, reflective conversations. A 2024 LinkedIn post elaborated: “I had to leave BT Sport to fully focus on family and High Performance.”

“After 10 wonderful years, I am stepping back from my lead presenting role at BT Sport to pursue other projects and ambitions.”

— Jake Humphrey, via LinkedIn (professional profile)

End of 10-year tenure

Humphrey joined BT Sport in 2013 after a career at the BBC. During his decade at BT, he hosted Premier League matches, FA Cup games, and European finals. The Mirror (UK national newspaper) reported that he described the role as “his dream job,” but acknowledged that his interests had evolved. BT Sport itself was rebranded as TNT Sports in July 2023 after Discovery’s takeover.

Reaction and legacy

The departure was covered by multiple outlets. The Telegraph (UK broadsheet newspaper) noted that Humphrey would spend more time on his High Performance podcast. BBC Sport’s report framed the exit as a natural progression rather than a fallout. The consensus: Humphrey left on his own terms, with a clear plan for what came next.

Why this matters

Humphrey’s exit illustrates a broader trend among veteran broadcasters: building a personal brand outside a single employer. His gamble — leaving a guaranteed high-profile role for an independent podcast — appears to have paid off, but only because the podcast had already proven its audience and revenue potential.

How did Jake Humphrey get famous?

Humphrey’s rise through television followed an unusual path: from children’s TV to the high-stakes world of Formula One and live sports.

Early career at CBBC

He began at CBBC in 2001, presenting shows such as Xchange and Bear Behaving Badly. This gave him on-camera confidence and a following among younger viewers. Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) records that he was a familiar face on the channel for several years before moving into sports.

BBC Formula One presenter

In 2009, Humphrey became the main host of BBC’s Formula One coverage, a role he held through 2012. This period coincided with Lewis Hamilton’s first championship era, giving Humphrey major exposure. He also led BBC’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics, further cementing his reputation as a live-event anchor. The High Performance site (official brand page) notes that he has covered the Olympics, Formula 1, FIFA World Cups, Euros and Commonwealth Games.

BT Sport and major events

After the BBC lost F1 rights to Sky, Humphrey moved to BT Sport in 2013. There he became the face of their football coverage, hosting Champions League nights and boxing events. The Mirror (UK national newspaper) described his BT Sport tenure as “10 years of top-tier sports presenting.”

The paradox

Humphrey became famous presenting sports that he never played professionally. His skill was not expertise in the game, but the ability to guide conversations and frame stories — a talent he now channels into the High Performance Podcast.

Who owns The High Performance Podcast?

The podcast is co-founded and co-owned by Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes. It operates under the High Performance brand, which includes the podcast, books, live events, and online courses. The High Performance Foundation is a separate charitable entity with its own governance.

Co-founders Humphrey and Damian Hughes

Humphrey and Hughes launched the podcast in 2019. Hughes is a professor of organisational psychology and a specialist in high-performance cultures. The partnership combines Humphrey’s media reach with Hughes’ academic credibility. The official High Performance site (brand website) lists both as founders.

Business model and brand

The brand generates revenue through podcast sponsorships, ticket sales for live shows, book royalties, and paid online courses. An Apple Podcasts description (streaming platform) states that Humphrey’s production company, Whisper Group, was named “Best Place to Work every year since 2017.” However, the ownership structure of the podcast company itself is not publicly filed in detail.

High Performance Foundation

Registered as a charity in England and Wales, the foundation focuses on providing high-performance training and resources to under-resourced communities. Its website states that it aims to “bridge the gap between elite performance knowledge and everyday life.” No financial accounts are publicly accessible at this stage, so the scale of its operations remains unclear.

What does Jake Humphrey’s wife do?

Harriet Humphrey is a private individual who does not maintain a public-facing career. According to Jake Humphrey’s LinkedIn profile (professional network), he is married to Harriet Humphrey. She is not listed as an employee of any of his ventures, and there are no media interviews featuring her. The couple have two children and reside in Norfolk. This privacy is deliberate: Humphrey has occasionally referenced family life in podcast episodes but keeps details of his marriage out of the public spotlight.

Timeline of Jake Humphrey’s career

The milestones in his professional journey reveal a pattern of deliberate reinvention.

Year/Period Event
2001 Jake Humphrey begins work as a CBBC presenter
2009–2012 Hosts BBC’s Formula One coverage
2012 Leads BBC’s coverage of the London Olympic Games
2013 Joins BT Sport as lead presenter
2019 Launches the High Performance Podcast with Damian Hughes
2021 Publishes High Performance book
2022 Establishes the High Performance Foundation
2023 Announces departure from BT Sport after 10 years

The pattern is clear: each step builds on the previous one, from children’s TV to the pinnacle of sports broadcasting, then a deliberate pivot into entrepreneurship.

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

While much of Humphrey’s career is well-documented, some financial and structural details remain opaque.

Confirmed facts

  • Humphrey was a BBC F1 host from 2009 to 2012 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
  • He left BT Sport in 2023 (BBC Sport (UK public service broadcaster))
  • He co-founded the High Performance Podcast (High Performance (official site))
  • He is married to Harriet Humphrey (LinkedIn (professional profile))
  • He published a book titled High Performance in 2021 (High Performance (official site))
  • He covered the 2012 Olympics for the BBC (High Performance (official site))

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth figure not publicly verified
  • Detailed ownership structure of the podcast company not fully disclosed
  • Specific income from keynote speaking engagements unknown
  • Full financial accounts of the High Performance Foundation not published

Key quotes from Jake Humphrey and the media

“After 10 wonderful years, I am stepping back from my lead presenting role at BT Sport to pursue other projects and ambitions.”

— Jake Humphrey, via LinkedIn (professional profile)

“The lads-y banter aspect of football presenting was not for me anymore.”

— Jake Humphrey, quoted in The Mirror (UK national newspaper)

“I had to leave Norwich to fully focus on family and High Performance.”

— Jake Humphrey, via LinkedIn (professional profile)

Additional sources

youtube.com, linkedin.com, music.amazon.com, youtube.com, linkedin.com, canadianpolicy.org

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Frequently asked questions

What year did Jake Humphrey start at CBBC?

He began working as a CBBC presenter in 2001 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

Is Jake Humphrey still involved with Formula One broadcasting?

No, he stopped presenting F1 after 2012 when the BBC lost the rights (High Performance (official site)).

Who is Jake Humphrey’s wife?

Harriet Humphrey. She keeps a low public profile and is not involved in his media ventures (LinkedIn (professional profile)).

How many books has Jake Humphrey written?

One: High Performance, published in 2021 (High Performance (official site)).

Does Jake Humphrey do charity work?

Yes, he is an ambassador for Norwich City Community Sports Foundation and co-founded the High Performance Foundation in 2022 (High Performance (official site)).

Where is the High Performance Podcast recorded?

It is recorded in the UK, often at studios in London or Norfolk, though exact locations vary per guest.

What is Jake Humphrey’s educational background?

He studied at the University of the West of England, though his specific degree is not widely reported.

What was Jake Humphrey’s role at the London 2012 Olympics?

He was a lead presenter for the BBC’s Olympic coverage (High Performance (official site)).

For broadcasters looking to build an independent platform, Humphrey’s trajectory is a blueprint: develop a side project while you still have a platform, ensure it has a clear revenue model, and leave before the day job becomes a distraction. For audiences, the High Performance Podcast is now the main stage, not the side show. The trade-off is clear: Humphrey lost the live audience of millions on Saturday afternoons, but gained full control over his content and schedule.