Jonathan B. Sopel[1](born 22 May 1959) is a British journalist, television presenter and podcaster. He was formerlyBBC News's North America editor; chief political correspondent for the domestic news channelBBC News;a presenter on thePolitics ShowonBBC Oneand the BBC News channel; and from 2013 to 2014, the main presenter ofGlobalonBBC World News.Since 2022, he has been presenting theGlobaldaily news podcastThe News Agents.
Jon Sopel | |
|---|---|
 Sopel during an outside broadcast forBBC Newsin March 2008 | |
| Born | Jonathan B. Sopel 22 May 1959 London,England |
| Education | Christ's College, Finchley |
| Alma mater | University of Southampton |
| Occupation(s) | News editor, television producer,newsreader |
| Notable credit(s) | BBC News Politics Show Global BBC World News |
| Title | Former North America editor ofBBC News |
| Spouse | Linda Twissell |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editBorn in 1959 to Jewish parents Myer and Miriam Sopel, his family moved fromStepneytoNorth Londonwhen he was eleven.[2]He was educated atChrist's College, Finchleybefore graduating with a2:1 honours degreein Politics and Sociology fromUniversity of Southampton.[3]Sopel was the president ofthe Students' Union,for theNational Organisation of Labour Studentsduring 1982 and 1983.[4]
Broadcasting career
editSopel was a freelance writer and broadcaster before joining the BBC in 1983 as a reporter and producer forBBC Radio Solent.He went on to become the chief political correspondent forBBC News 24and later spent three years as the BBC's Paris correspondent. Stories he covered while he was in Paris included the French ban on the importation of British beef, the millennium celebrations in Paris, the oil spill inBrittany,the French presidency of the EU in 2000 and theConcorde crashin July 2000. During the2003 invasion of Iraq,Sopel was the BBC's correspondent inKuwait City.In 2005, Sopel joinedThe Politics ShowonBBC OnereplacingJeremy Vineas the programme's main presenter. It broadcast every Sunday at noon and Sopel interviewed key politicians and advisers, including Prime MinisterTony Blair,opposition leaderDavid Cameron,Jack Straw,Gordon Brownand US Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice.The show ended in December 2011 and was replaced bySunday Politicsin January 2012.[5]
Sopel has co-presented theBBC News channelon weekday afternoons between 2 pm and 5 pm – alongsideLouise Minchineach Tuesday to Thursday and alongsideEmily Maitlison Mondays – following his appointment as a presenter on the channel in 2003. During major political stories, such as elections, Sopel reported on location for theBBC News ChannelandBBC News at One.He made occasional appearances onBBC Onenews bulletins as a relief anchor. In his 16 years with the BBC, he has appeared onPMonRadio Four,Breakfast News,BBC News at One,BBC News at SixandBBC News at Tenas well as frontingBBC Two's annual coverage of the UK political party conferences,Conference Live.He has also been an occasional stand-in presenter forNewsnight,and has made past appearances onBreakfast,HARDtalkandThe Daily Politics.In October 2012, it was announced that Sopel would present the new programmeGlobal with Jon Sopel,airing 15:00 to 16:30 GMT every Monday to Thursday onBBC World News.[6]
In January 2014, Sopel had a rare interview with the Emir of Dubai,Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.At the end of the following April, Sopel was appointed the BBC's North America editor, after his predecessorMark Mardellbecame a presenter forBBC Radio 4.[7]In 2019,BuzzFeed Newsrevealed that Sopel gave a paid confidential speech toPhilip Morris International(the maker ofMarlborocigarettes) at a staff conference in Miami.[8][9][10]This was criticised by Britishlung cancercharities.[11]
In 2020, Sopel began presenting the BBC podcastAmericastalongsideNewsnightpresenterEmily Maitlisand chief North America reporter Anthony Zurcher. The podcast originally focused on the2020 election,containing analysis as well as an array of interviews from across the political scene.Americastreceived positive reviews and performed well on theiTuneschart, at times becoming the UK's most listened to podcast of any genre.[12][13]The series was originally meant to end after the 2020 election, but has continued due to its popularity. An edited version of the podcast is broadcast onBBC Radio 4.In October 2021, Sopel announced his departure as North America editor,[14]saying he was taking a "long break" to write a book.[15]In November 2021, his successor was announced asSarah Smith.[16]In February 2022, Sopel announced he would be leaving the BBC after an exclusive signing withLBCto launch a new podcast and joint radio show with fellow presenterEmily Maitlis.[17]The News Agents,featuring Sopel, Maitlis andLewis Goodallwas launched in August 2022.[18]
Personal life
editSopel is an ambassador forThe Prince's Trust.He met his wife, Linda Twissell, while working atRadio Solent;the couple have a son and daughter. In October 2010, Sopel required surgery to his hip when he crashed his motor scooter.[19]
Awards
editIn 2007, Sopel was voted 'Political Journalist of the Year' by the Public Affairs Industry.[20]Sopel was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by theUniversity of Southamptonin 2011. In 2013, Sopel was shortlisted for 'National Presenter of the Year' at theRoyal Television Societytelevision journalism awards 2011/2012.[21]In 2016 Sopel was appointedPro-Chancellorof the University of Southampton.[22]
Publications
edit- Tony Blair: The Moderniser.Michael Joseph. 1995.ISBN978-0-553-50387-6.
- If Only They Didn't Speak English: Notes from Trump's America.BBC Books.2017.ISBN978-1-78594-226-6.
- A Year At The Circus: Inside Trump's White House.BBC Books.2019.ISBN978-1-78594-437-6.
- UnPresidented: Politics, pandemics and the race that Trumped all others.BBC Books.2021.ISBN978-1-78594-440-6.
- Strangeland: How Britain stopped making sense.Ebury Press.2024.ISBN978-1-52993-840-1.
References
edit- ^G.R.O. Births Index, Hammersmith April–June 1959, Volume 5c Page 1107
- ^"Jon Sopel: Watching the White House".The Jewish Chronicle.Retrieved28 November2020.
- ^Rubinstein, William D.;Jolles, Michael;Rubinstein, Hilary L.(22 February 2011).The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History.Palgrave Macmillan.ISBN978-1-4039-3910-4.
- ^"BBC North America Editor Jon Sopel on the role Hampshire has played in his career".Hampshire Life.3 January 2017.
- ^Plunkett, John; Sweney, Mark (6 October 2011)."News to bear the brunt of BBC cuts that bite across the board".The Guardian.Retrieved24 August2014.
- ^"Presenter Jon Sopel to join BBC World News".BBC Media Centre.Retrieved16 December2012.
- ^Mark Sweney"BBC appoints Jon Sopel as North America editor",The Guardian,29 April 2014
- ^Stefano, Mark Di (13 April 2019)."One Of The BBC's Most Senior Journalists Gave An Off-The-Record Keynote Presentation To A Global Tobacco Giant".BuzzFeed.Retrieved29 October2020.
- ^Waterson, Jim (29 October 2020)."BBC journalists told not to 'virtue signal' in social media crackdown".The Guardian.Retrieved29 October2020.
- ^"BBC clamps down on staff social media and paid speeches".Yahoo! Sports.Agence France-Presse.29 October 2020.Retrieved29 October2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^Gregory, Andrew (14 April 2019)."Health charities fume at Jon Sopel's cigarette firm gig".The Sunday Times.Retrieved29 October2020.(subscription required)
- ^Quirke, Antonia (3 August 2021)."The joy of BBC Sound's US podcast Americast".New Statesman.Retrieved25 October2021.
- ^Maitlis, Emily [@maitlis] (24 October 2020)."We are currently at Number 2 on the #Applepodcasts charts"(Tweet).Retrieved25 October2021– viaTwitter.
- ^Sopel, Jon [@BBCJonSopel] (19 October 2021)."I'm off.. After 7+ fab years in DC, 3 books, 3 presidents (one kept me busier than others) it's time to return to the UK and BBC mothership"(Tweet).Retrieved25 October2021– viaTwitter.
- ^Kanter, Jake (22 October 2021)."Who would replace Laura Kuenssberg as BBC political editor?".The Times.Retrieved25 October2021.
- ^Bedigan, Mike (17 November 2021)."Sarah Smith takes over as North America editor for the BBC".The Times.Retrieved19 November2021.
- ^"Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel to leave BBC to launch podcast and host LBC show".22 February 2022.Retrieved22 September2022.
- ^"Details of Emily Maitlis & Jon Sopel's new Global podcast revealed".22 August 2022.Retrieved22 August2022.
- ^"BBC newsreader Jon Sopel breaks hip in scooter crash".BBC News.21 October 2010.Retrieved21 October2010.
- ^coverage of UK and EU lobbying jobs and news[permanent dead link].Public Affairs News. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^RTS Announces Winners for Television Journalism Awards 2012/2013 – Press Release | Royal Television SocietyArchived29 October 2013 at theWayback Machine.Rts.org.uk (20 February 2014). Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^"University of Southampton appoints Jon Sopel as Pro-Chancellor".University of Southampton.Retrieved19 August2023.