Robert Peston

Biography

Robert Peston is ITV’s Political Editor and host of their flagship politics and current affairs show, Peston. He covers the latest happenings in Westminster and interviews important players on the national and international political scenes. In addition, he co-hosts, with Steph McGovern, the podcast The Rest Is Money where they explore what we need to know about the economic issues that affect our everyday lives, decode business jargon, and revisit some of the biggest financial events of the last half century.

Prior to his high-profile move to ITV, Robert was the BBC’s Economics Editor, revealing the stories behind the statistics and explaining the implications of domestic, European, and global economic shifts. Before that, as Business Editor, he broadcast and published a series of exclusive and influential stories about the global financial situation. He revealed the crises at Northern Rock and RBS, the emergency rescue of HBOS, and the tumult around the credit crunch, bailouts, and austerity.

Before joining the BBC, Robert was City and Assistant Editor of the Sunday Telegraph, in charge of the business and money sections, and the FT's Financial Editor. At the FT, he was a member of the editorial board and earlier he served as its Political Editor, Banking Editor, and founder of the investigations unit.

Away from the cameras Robert has also won plaudits for his online journalism. He is the author of critically acclaimed books including How Do We Fix This Mess? and Who Runs Britain?. Both examine the causes and long-term implications of the 2008 financial crisis. In Bust? he considers the state of the economy, society and politics and explains the urgent need to remodel institutions, learn lessons from other countries, and embrace AI, a subject Robert is particularly passionate about and engaged with. Whilst in WTF?, described by the Financial Times as “mandatory reading”, he takes a broader look at the world, what’s gone wrong, and proposes possible solutions across politics, society and business.

Amongst over thirty journalism awards Robert has to his name, he has won the Royal Television Society's Journalist of the Year, Specialist Journalist of the Year, and Scoop of the Year (twice), the Wincott Prize for financial journalism, and the Broadcasting Press Guild's award for Best Performer in a non-acting role.

Robert has written and presented several documentaries and factual series, notably four films about China's boom and possible bust, two on the EU referendum, three films on the financial crisis, and the popular series Robert Peston Goes Shopping. Away from journalism Robert is also the founder of the education charity Speakers for Schools, and the Vice President of Hospice UK.