Jon Sopel: The Journalist Who Took His Reporting Beyond the BBC

Introduction

Jon Sopel is a British journalist, broadcaster, author and podcast presenter. He is best known for his long BBC career and his work as North America Editor. Today, he co-hosts The News Agents alongside Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall.

His career has covered many big events. British elections. American presidents. Wars and political crises. He has reported from Westminster, Paris and Washington, often explaining complicated political stories to everyday viewers.

But his story started much earlier.

Born on 22 May 1959, Sopel grew up in London and later studied politics at the University of Southampton. He joined the BBC in 1983. Nearly four decades later, he left to start a new chapter in podcasting.

As of October 2026, he is 67 years old and remains active in British political journalism.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full name	Jonathan Berris Sopel
Known as	Jon Sopel
Date of birth	22 May 1959
Age	67 years (2026)
Birthplace	London, England
Nationality	British
Profession	Journalist, broadcaster, author and podcaster
Education	University of Southampton
Degree	BSc Politics and Sociology
Graduation	1981
Wife	Linda Twissell
Married	1988
Children	Two
BBC career	1983–2022
Former position	BBC North America Editor
Current work	Co-host of The News Agents
Notable book	Strangeland: How Britain Stopped Making Sense

Early Life and Childhood

Jon Sopel was born in London on 22 May 1959. He spent his early years in the British capital.

His childhood included time in Stepney, east London. His family later moved to Finchley in north London.

That change brought a new environment. It also placed him closer to the part of London where he would continue his schooling.

He attended Christ’s College, Finchley.

Politics would later become his profession. But his early interest grew through education and student activities rather than a direct move into national broadcasting.

He eventually left London for Southampton.

That decision mattered.

It brought him into university politics and introduced him to the kind of debate and decision-making that would become familiar throughout his career.

Education and University Years

He studied Politics and Sociology at the University of Southampton.

Sopel graduated in 1981.

His university experience went beyond lectures. He became involved in student politics and later served as President of Southampton University Students’ Union.

This gave him direct experience of leadership.

Student politics involved real disagreements. Different groups wanted different outcomes. Decisions required discussion and compromise.

Sopel later spoke about those lessons in an alumni interview.

He explained how studying political systems and taking part in student leadership helped him understand the way power works.

His connection with Southampton continued long after graduation.

In 2011, the university awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Letters.

Then came another recognition.

In September 2016, Southampton appointed him Pro-Chancellor. The position involved representing the institution and presiding over graduation ceremonies.

It was a return to familiar ground, this time as an established broadcaster.

How His Journalism Career Started

His broadcasting career began in Southampton.

In 1983, Sopel joined BBC Radio Solent as a reporter and producer.

Local radio offered practical experience.

He had to gather information, speak with people and prepare reports for listeners. Small newsrooms often require journalists to handle different tasks.

This was his starting point.

He later moved into national reporting and worked on BBC Radio 4 programmes, including The World at One and PM.

Political reporting became his main area.

He covered Westminster and worked as a political correspondent before becoming chief political correspondent for BBC News 24.

It was a busy period.

British politics created a constant stream of stories, from party leadership disputes to government decisions and general elections.

Sopel developed his experience through these assignments.

That knowledge would eventually take him overseas.

His Years as a BBC Political Correspondent

Political journalism became central to his career.

He reported on British governments, senior politicians and important parliamentary events.

His work included television and radio.

He also interviewed public figures whose decisions affected national policy.

Among his major assignments were programmes dealing with Westminster politics and the changing leadership of Britain’s political parties.

He covered the 2010 general election and the coalition negotiations that followed.

Those negotiations attracted widespread attention.

The election produced a hung parliament, leaving political parties to discuss how a new government could be formed.

For a political reporter, the story required close attention to fast-changing developments.

Sopel was already experienced in this type of coverage.

His reporting was also taking him outside Britain.

Working as the BBC’s Paris Correspondent

Before becoming closely associated with American politics, Sopel worked in France.

He spent several years as the BBC’s Paris correspondent during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The role gave him broader international experience.

He reported on French affairs and European political developments for British audiences.

Working abroad meant covering unfamiliar political institutions while explaining their decisions to people back home.

It was useful preparation.

Later, his career would take him to another major political centre: Washington, DC.

But first, he became a familiar television presenter.

Presenting The Politics Show

In 2005, Sopel began presenting The Politics Show on BBC One.

The programme focused on British politics and public affairs.

It featured political interviews, discussions and reports examining government decisions.

Sopel interviewed senior political figures, including Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. His interview experience also included former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The programme gave viewers a closer look at political arguments.

It also placed Sopel in a prominent broadcasting role.

He continued working on other BBC programmes, including Newsnight, HARDtalk and The Daily Politics.

His responsibilities kept growing.

He later became the main presenter of Global, a BBC World News programme, before moving into his next major reporting position.

Becoming BBC North America Editor

In 2014, Sopel became the BBC’s North America Editor.

The appointment took him to Washington, DC.

He remained in the position for approximately eight years.

This became one of the best-known periods of his career.

American politics was changing quickly.

Sopel reported on the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump’s first administration and the 2020 election.

He also covered the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on American politics.

His work reached audiences through television, radio and online BBC reporting.

The White House became familiar territory.

He attended presidential news conferences, questioned political figures and reported on decisions taken by the American government.

One notable part of his career was interviewing Barack Obama.

He also travelled aboard Air Force One while covering American presidential affairs.

These experiences later influenced several of his books.

Reporting During Donald Trump’s Presidency

Donald Trump’s first presidential term became a major subject of Sopel’s reporting.

Trump entered the White House in January 2017.

His administration generated constant international attention, with arguments over immigration, foreign policy, elections and relationships with the media.

Sopel covered these developments from Washington.

He attended White House briefings and reported on the administration’s decisions.

The relationship between Trump and journalists was often tense.

Questions could produce sharp exchanges. Political announcements frequently changed the news agenda.

Sopel wrote about these experiences.

His books gave readers a longer account of events that television reports could only cover briefly.

He also examined the political divisions within American society.

The result was a body of work connecting daily journalism with longer-form political writing.

Major International Reporting Assignments

His work was never limited to Westminster and Washington.

Over his BBC career, Sopel reported from several countries and covered major international events.

These assignments included:

• The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, reporting from Sri Lanka.
• Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.
• Conflict in the Middle East.
• Reporting visits to Afghanistan and Iraq.
• American presidential election campaigns.
• The Beijing Olympic Games.
• The FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
• The tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Some assignments were especially difficult.

War reporting carries real risks. Natural disasters create their own dangers.

In an interview published by the University of Southampton, Sopel discussed the fear and uncertainty journalists face while working in conflict areas.

He also described the professional experience of witnessing history as it happens.

That interest remained visible throughout his career.

Why Did He Leave the BBC?

After nearly four decades, Sopel left the BBC in 2022.

The decision was announced in February that year.

He and fellow journalist Emily Maitlis agreed to join Global, the British media and entertainment company.

The move gave them an opportunity to create a new podcast.

It also marked a clear career change.

At the BBC, Sopel had worked within an established public-service broadcasting organisation.

Podcasting offered a different format.

There was more room for extended discussion, direct commentary and conversations between presenters.

Sopel described the opportunity as an exciting new professional challenge when the agreement was announced.

He had already worked with Maitlis on the BBC’s Americast podcast.

Their next project would reach a new audience.

The News Agents and His Podcast Career

The News Agents launched on 30 August 2022.

The podcast brought together Jon Sopel, Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall.

Its main subject was current affairs.

Episodes examined British politics, international news and important public debates.

The presenters discussed events, interviewed guests and explained why major stories mattered.

The programme soon developed a strong presence in British news podcasting.

It also moved beyond studio recordings.

In December 2024, The News Agents held a live event at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Further live shows were announced for 2025, including appearances in Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Sopel continued working with the podcast in 2026.

Global’s official website still lists him as one of its three presenters.

What Is He Doing in 2026?

Sopel remains active in broadcasting.

His main established role is presenting The News Agents with Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall.

He has also appeared on television.

On 6 September 2026, he guest-presented Sky News’s Sunday Morning With….

The programme introduced a rotating group of presenters rather than relying on one permanent host.

Sopel appeared in the opening edition of the revised format.

This was a guest-presenting assignment.

It did not mean he had permanently joined Sky News as its Sunday political presenter.

His work continues to focus largely on current affairs and political discussion.

Jon Sopel’s Wife and Family

Jon Sopel is married to Linda Twissell.

The couple met while working at BBC Radio Solent in Southampton.

They married in 1988.

They have two children, a son and a daughter.

His family has generally stayed outside the public attention surrounding his broadcasting career.

Sopel has spoken publicly about his work far more often than his private family arrangements.

Reliable information about his children’s professional and personal lives is limited.

For that reason, their private details are best left out of a factual profile.

Books Written by Jon Sopel

Writing has been an important part of his career.

His books draw on his experience covering British and American politics.

Tony Blair: The Moderniser (1995)

This was an early political biography.

The book examined Tony Blair’s career and his rise within the Labour Party.

It appeared before Blair became prime minister in 1997.

The book was published by Michael Joseph in 1995.

If Only They Didn’t Speak English (2017)

Its full title is If Only They Didn’t Speak English: Notes from Trump’s America.

The book examines American society during a time of political division.

Sopel draws on his experience reporting from the United States.

He discusses how Americans understand their country and why political opinions can differ so sharply.

A Year at the Circus (2019)

The full title is A Year at the Circus: Inside Trump’s White House.

This book focuses on life around the Trump administration.

Sopel describes the events and reporting experiences of his time in Washington.

It gives readers an account of the presidency from a journalist covering events firsthand.

UnPresidented (2021)

UnPresidented: Politics, Pandemics and the Race that Trumped All Others looks at American politics during the 2020 presidential election.

The book covers the pandemic and the contest between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

It also examines the political arguments surrounding the election.

Strangeland (2024)

His 2024 book is titled Strangeland: How Britain Stopped Making Sense.

This time, the focus shifts towards Britain.

Sopel examines the country after years of reporting from America.

He looks at Brexit, political instability and the changes he noticed after returning home.

Penguin published the book in September 2024, with a paperback edition following in 2025.

Awards and Recognition

Sopel has received several professional and academic honours.

In 2007, he was named Political Journalist of the Year by the Public Affairs Industry.

Four years later, the University of Southampton awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Letters.

In 2013, he was shortlisted for National Presenter of the Year at the Royal Television Society Journalism Awards.

He became Pro-Chancellor of the University of Southampton in 2016.

His podcast career has also received recognition.

In 2023, The News Agents won Best Podcast at the Global Awards.

These honours reflect different stages of his work, from political reporting to broadcasting and podcasting.

A Serious Accident During His Career

In October 2010, Sopel suffered a broken hip in a motor scooter accident in London.

The accident happened while he was travelling to work.

He initially thought the injury was less serious.

But the pain became worse.

He eventually reached hospital and required surgery.

The incident forced him to miss important political coverage.

At the time, he was working on BBC political programmes and wanted to return to broadcasting.

The accident became one of the more widely reported personal incidents of his career.

Public Criticism and Professional Questions

Like many long-serving political journalists, Sopel has faced public scrutiny.

In 2019, reports emerged about his appearance at a paid event involving tobacco company Philip Morris International.

The engagement drew criticism from public-health campaigners who questioned the relationship between journalists and corporate speaking events.

The issue concerned professional judgement and broadcasting ethics.

It should not be confused with a criminal allegation.

His move away from the BBC also attracted discussion about impartiality and the differences between traditional news reporting and opinion-led podcast formats.

Sopel has addressed aspects of his career change in interviews.

How His Reporting Style Developed

Sopel has worked across several forms of journalism.

Local radio came first.

Then national political reporting, international assignments and television presenting followed.

Podcasting became another chapter.

Each format required a different approach.

Radio demanded clear explanations. Television added live interviews and visual reporting. Books offered room for longer accounts.

Podcasts allowed extended discussion.

His experience helps explain why he remains a familiar figure in British political media.

He has watched governments change, covered presidential campaigns and worked through major shifts in the news industry.

Final Thought

Jon Sopel has spent much of his professional life reporting on politics.

His career began at BBC Radio Solent in 1983 and later took him to Westminster, Paris and Washington.

He became one of the BBC’s familiar political broadcasters before leaving in 2022.

Now, The News Agents provides another outlet for his reporting and analysis.

His story shows how a journalist can move from local news to international coverage while continuing to work as the media industry changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Jon Sopel?

Jon Sopel is a British journalist, broadcaster, author and podcast presenter. He previously worked as the BBC’s North America Editor and now co-hosts The News Agents.

2. How old is Jon Sopel?

He was born on 22 May 1959. He is 67 years old as of October 2026.

3. Who is Jon Sopel’s wife?

He is married to Linda Twissell. They met while working at BBC Radio Solent and married in 1988.

4. Does Jon Sopel have children?

Yes. He has two children, a son and a daughter.

5. Why did Jon Sopel leave the BBC?

He left in 2022 to join Global and pursue new broadcasting opportunities, including The News Agents podcast.

6. Where did Jon Sopel study?

He studied Politics and Sociology at the University of Southampton, graduating in 1981.

7. What is Jon Sopel’s latest book?

His latest verified major published book is Strangeland: How Britain Stopped Making Sense, first published in September 2024.

8. What is Jon Sopel doing now?

As of October 2026, he co-hosts The News Agents. He also guest-presented Sky News’s Sunday Morning With… in September 2026.