Born in London, Ridge studied English Literature at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, before working for the tabloid newspaper News of the World.

[1] She continued her education at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and obtained a second-class BA degree in English Literature.

[1][2] During her final year of university she did a period of work experience at the tabloid newspaper News of the World, which led to a position on their graduate training programme.

[2][4] During her time there she covered a broad range of political stories and travelled with the British Prime Minister to Afghanistan, New York and Brazil.

She was based in Colorado for the channel's coverage of the US elections and was known for her round the clock broadcasting at the annual party conferences.