Tom Bradby

Thomas Matthew Bradby (born 13 January 1967) is a British journalist and novelist, best known as the current political editor for ITV News, a role which he began in 2005.^[1] Since 2012, Bradby has been the presenter of the ITV political series The Agenda.

Early life and family

Bradby was born in Malta in 1967, the son of a Royal Navy officer. After a short spell in Gibraltar he moved to Britain and was educated at Westbourne House School, Sherborne School and the University of Edinburgh.^[2] In 1994 he married Claudia, the daughter of Vice-Admiral Hon. Sir Nicholas John Hill-Norton.^[3]

Career

He joined ITN as an editorial trainee in 1990 and subsequently became producer for Michael Brunson, ITN's political editor, in 1992.

Bradby then spent three years (1993–96) as Ireland correspondent, during which time he covered the Northern Ireland peace process, the IRA ceasefire and Bill Clinton's visit to Ireland in November 1995. From 1999–2001, he was ITV's Asia correspondent. In October 1999, he was injured whilst covering the riots in Jakarta against the newly elected President, Abdurrahman Wahid.^[4] He was hit in the leg by a flare attached to a chain as demonstrators clashed with armed police in the Indonesian capital. He underwent a three-hour operation for a compound fracture of his fibula and spent several days in a Jakarta hospital before flying home to Hong Kong to convalesce.

After recovering from his injury and returning to the UK, Bradby became Royal Correspondent for ITV News, covering a number of key stories, including the Queen's Jubilee year, as well as the deaths of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. He went on to become ITV News' UK editor, and then political editor. On 16 November 2010 he carried out the first official interview of Prince William and Catherine Middleton at St James's Palace following the announcement of the couple's engagement, reportedly having been specifically requested by the couple due to Bradby's friendship with the Prince.^[5] He subsequently attended William and Catherine's wedding as a guest on 29 April 2011.^[6]

In February 2012 he began hosting the topical discussion programme The Agenda on ITV, featuring a panel of politicians and other celebrity guests debating current issues in the news.

On 19 August 2013, he made his debut co-newscasting News at Ten alongside Mary Nightingale.

Publications

As of 2013, Bradby has written six novels:

• Shadow Dancer (1998) ISBN 0-552-14586-6
• The Sleep of the Dead (2001) ISBN 0-552-14587-4
• The Master of Rain (2002) ISBN 0-552-14746-X
• The White Russian (2003) ISBN 0-552-14900-4
• The God of Chaos (2004) ISBN 0-593-05267-6
• Blood Money (2009) ISBN 0-552-15308-7

His first novel, Shadow Dancer, was adapted into a film of the same name starring Clive Owen and Andrea Riseborough in 2012, with the screenplay adapted by Bradby himself.^[7] It premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.^[7]

Personal life

Bradby splits his time between his work in London and his home in Hampshire which he shares with his jewellery designer wife Claudia and their three children.^[2] In addition to writing, he is also a keen footballer.^[4]

Unusually for a political editor, Tom views himself as apolitical, saying that he does not "have a coherent set of political views".^[2]

References

External links

• Tom Bradby at itv.com
• Tom Bradby on Twitter
• Tom Bradby at the Internet Movie Database