Victoria Newton


Victoria Newton is the editor of The Sun. She formerly ran its "Bizarre" showbiz column and then became deputy editor of the paper, before becoming senior editor in February 2020.

Early life

She attended Rushcliffe School, a comprehensive in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, where her father, Don, was deputy-headmaster. She went to Newnham College, Cambridge.

Career

Newton started in Fleet Street in 1993 at the Daily Express as a trainee after graduating from university, and then started the showbiz beat at The People. In 1998, she became an assistant to Dominic Mohan on The Suns "Bizarre" pages, before becoming the paper's Los Angeles correspondent in 1999. Newton returned to the UK in 2002 to become the Daily Mail's showbiz editor, but returned to The Sun in 2003 to become editor of "Bizarre" replacing the departing Mohan. She described it as her "dream job" in September 2005 although an anonymous critic began a Vickywatch blog detailing her mistakes.
Under her direction, "Bizarre" was known for presenting awards like 'Shagger of the Year' or 'Caner of the Year' and various other awards. However, it was revealed that the 2006 winners of the "Bizarre" readers' poll awards - who included Justin Timberlake and Madonna - were presented with their awards before readers had the opportunity to vote. From 2006, Newton started producing a weekly podcast featuring many celebrity friends and musicians. Newton's column often contradicted her News International colleague Rav Singh's then-showbiz column in the News of the World.
"Bizarre's" biggest rivals were the Daily Mirror's "The 3AM Girls" Eva Simpson and Caroline Hedley, which was billed as the column packed with "proper showbiz exclusives". Newton frequently made appearances in Private Eye's "Street Of Shame".
In November 2007, it was announced that Newton would be leaving Bizarre and had been promoted to Head of Features and Entertainment. She was replaced by her assistant, Gordon Smart. Newton remained in this job until her appointment as the deputy editor of the News of the World in October 2009, a position she retained until the paper's closure in 2011, Newton was the paper's deputy editor. In September 2013, she was appointed the editor of The Sun on Sunday after being deputy editor of The Suns whole 7 day operation. Her immediate superior remained David Dinsmore, The Suns editor.
Newton was appointed as editor of
The Sun in February 2020 when her predecessor Tony Gallagher became deputy editor of The Times. The Sun on Sunday'' is still being presided over by Newton, along with Keith Poole, and it is unclear if a dedicated editor will be appointed.

Awards