Chris Mason

Mason, a 20-year veteran at the BBC seen as a safe pair of hands, did not originally apply for job.

Although Mason did not originally apply for the position he was being offered jobs by external organisations, and in the past fortnight BBC bosses suggested he should put his name forward. He had been offered jobs by other rival outlets and the BBC was keen to keep him, with the likes of Times Radio previously attempting to secure his services. The 41-year-old Yorkshire-born reporter has been at the BBC for 20 years, including a decade reporting on Westminster for television and radio.

He delivered his first report from Westminster in 2004, spent two years in Brussels as a Europe correspondent and had a stint as BBC Radio 5 Live's political ...

Is the prime minister going to get a deal with the EU? Dunno! Is she going to be able to get it through the Commons? Don’t know about that, either. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. I can’t wait to get started.”

Presenter of Radio 4's Any Questions? had ruled himself out of the role earlier this year but now takes over from Laura Kuenssberg.

The 41-year-old has worked at the BBC for 20 years and is considered a safe pair of hands. Confirming his new appointment, he said: “What a tremendous privilege to take on what, for me, is the most extraordinary job in British broadcasting and journalism. “His calm, incisive analysis and signature candid style have been invaluable for audiences when navigating complex stories.

Press Gazette has been reporting on British journalism without fear or favour since 1965. Our mission is to provide a news and information service which ...

Mason has served as a political correspondent for the broadcaster for over ten years across its radio, TV and online output. His calm, incisive analysis and signature candid style have been invaluable for audiences when navigating complex stories. I can’t wait to get started.”

BBC political correspondent Chris Mason will replace Laura Kuenssberg as political editor, the top news job in the corporation.

“To lead the best team of journalists in the business on the best news patch of the lot is something I’d never even dared dream of. His ambition and vision for the political editor role is really exciting and I wish him every success in the new post.” He has presented BBC Radio 4’s “Any Questions?” since 2019, and will continue in this role until the summer.

The 41-year-old is taking over from Laura Kuenssberg next month.

Mason has presented the BBC Radio 4 programme Any Questions? since 2019. The radio show hosts a panel of personalities from the world of politics and media who are posed questions from the audience. He told BBC Radio 4: “I still subscribe to the local paper, the Craven Herald and Pioneer.

BBC confirmed on Wednesday that Chris Mason will be appointed as the new political editor, but how old is he and is he married?

The journalist also spent two years in Brussels as a Europe correspondent and had a stint as BBC Radio 5 Live’s political reporter before joining BBC News in 2012 as a political reporter. Laura – who confirmed she was stepping down late last year – was among those congratulating Chris on his new role, taking to Twitter to wish him the best of luck. Chris has had a stellar career in the broadcasting industry since he delivered his first report from Westminster in 2004. He added: ‘His ambition and vision for the Political Editor role is really exciting and I wish him every success in the new post.’ Addressing his exciting new position, he said: ‘What a tremendous privilege to take on what, for me, is the most extraordinary job in British broadcasting and journalism. BBC confirmed on Wednesday that Chris Mason will be appointed as the new political editor replacing Laura Kuenssberg.

Any Questions presenter Chris Mason, renowned for his strong regional accent, will be the BBC's new Political Editor after a protracted recruitment process.

Mason did not feature in the last list of BBC stars earning over £150,000 and revealed his salary as a political reporter some years ago was £60,000. Jonathan Munro, Interim Director of BBC News said of Mason: “His calm, incisive analysis and signature candid style have been invaluable for audiences when navigating complex stories. Likely contenders used the interest as leverage to secure enhanced roles from their employers. He will step into the role after the May local elections and leave Any Questions in the Summer. I can’t wait to get started.” The new political editor will get a significant salary rise.

Two weeks ago, the lifelong news obsessive wasn't in the running, but bosses got worried he might become another senior defection.

In a BBC that is constantly embarrassed about its lack of on-air regional accents, some parts of the corporation’s management have sometimes spoken about Mason’s Yorkshire accent as a prized curiosity rather than an unremarkable characteristic. This could be because Mason started working for the corporation long before the social media age, joining its Newcastle newsroom in 2002 after a year at ITN. As a result, when pro-government researchers comb through the Twitter accounts of BBC journalists for evidence of political opinions, they have nothing to go on. The nearest Mason has come to troubling the online news clickbait factories is when he said he had never watched an episode of Friends on an episode of the Brexitcast podcast. In turn, the holder has to navigate the enormous pressure that Downing Street puts on the corporation’s Westminster news operation. “But a genuinely lovely person and untouched by fame … Unlike some of his colleagues, I genuinely never hear a bad word about him.” And just 24 hours later Mason was announced to the world as the new political editor, succeeding Laura Kuenssberg and upending months of very public speculation over who would get the job – and beating the previous all-female shortlist in the process.

He will take up the post from Laura Kuenssberg in May following the local elections.

The new job is an immense privilege&responsibility and I’ll give it everything.” He tweeted: “Cripes, thank you for the lovely messages. hris Mason has said news of his promotion to BBC political editor broke while he was in a pub in Halifax without phone signal.