Her mother, Dr. Kadi Sesay, was a lecturer at Fourah Bay College and later became a political advisor in the government of Valentine Strasser in 1992. Her father worked as a legal advisor for the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board (SLPMB) until his passing in 1988.

Education and Early Career Interests

Sesay attended the private Fourah Bay College School in Freetown before moving to the United Kingdom at the age of 16 in 1992 to pursue further education. After completing her A-Levels, she was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, where she studied English. Initially aspiring to become an actress, her interests later shifted toward journalism. During her university years, she began writing to various media outlets in search of opportunities in broadcasting.

Career Beginnings in British Media

Upon graduating from Cambridge, Sesay began her media career as a researcher on the BBC talk show Kilroy. Starting as an unpaid intern, she quickly proved her abilities and was eventually hired as a full-time employee. In 1998, she relocated to Glasgow to work for BBC Scotland. After spending time behind the camera, she secured her first on-screen role as a television announcer for BBC Choice.

Over the next few years, Sesay presented a variety of programs for broadcasters including the BBC, TWI, and CNN. In 2002, she joined Sky, where she anchored "Good Morning Sports Fans" on Sky Sports News. One of her most memorable moments during this time was meeting former boxer Michael Watson. Following her role at Sky, she moved to ITN, anchoring the ITV Morning News program.