Mark Mardell

Mark has worked at a senior level for the BBC covering major world events for more than thirty years.

Most recently, he presented the ‘World at One’ and ‘the World this Weekend” on Radio Four. Ever the top class presenter he interviewed a wide range of people from top politicians to refugees on the Syrian border.

BBC’s North America Editor

Previously, he reported for TV and radio as the BBC’s North America editor , during the Obama presidency, and as the BBC’s first ever Europe editor. In both jobs he made a point of travelling widely across both continents, not merely reflecting the views from Washington and Brussels.

Mark’s journeys have left him with many fascinating tales. From wresting cattle with Tea party cowboys in Texas, to taking Nigel Farage around a Romanian meat market.  And from tracking the Deepwater oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico to vox popping Chinese citizens in an anti-American museum on the North Korea border.

Before becoming a foreign correspondent, Mark was based at Westminster as the BBC’s chief political correspondent and political editor of Newsnight.

Mark’s speeches are based on his comprehensive career experiences .  During this time he interviewed most of the UK’s  top politicians and Prime Ministers on the burning issues of the day. In addition he also gained insight with many of them in less formal settings.  These include gossiping about Gorbachev with Mrs Thatcher over whisky, talking to Tony Blair about his time in office over a cup of tea in the Downing Street garden and following Gordon Brown through an intense trip to Africa.  More recently he has closely followed the rise of Boris Johnson, and the re making of the British political landscape.  Mark is also an event host.