Nicholas Watt


Nicholas "Nick" Watt is a British journalist. He is the current political editor of the BBC's Newsnight.

Early life

Watt attended King's College School before studying History at the University of York between 1986 and 1989, before studying for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism Studies at the University of Wales between 1989 and 1990.

Career

Watt began his career as a political reporter based in Belfast working for The Times as Ireland Correspondent, covering the initial stages of the peace process.
In 1997, he was based in London following his appointment as political correspondent for The Times, before joining The Guardian a year later where he worked as European editor and chief political correspondent. Between 2007 and 2008, he was the acting political editor of The Observer.
In 2012, he appeared on Press Gazettes list of the 'top 50 political reporters', at number 14.
In 2016, Watt left The Guardian to become political editor of Newsnight on BBC Two, replacing Allegra Stratton. The editor of Newsnight at the time was also a former Guardian employee, Ian Katz, who said that Watt was "one of the most trusted, authoritative and engaging journalists in the country. With a background in Northern Ireland, Europe and Westminster he's also uniquely equipped to guide viewers through an increasingly fractured and complex political landscape." A number of BBC journalists were reported to be "annoyed" with the director of BBC News, James Harding, appointing BBC posts to figures with backgrounds in the newspaper industry, including Watt.
In March 2019, he recounted a comment with strong language made by an anonymous cabinet minister under Theresa May.