Katy Searle

Katy Searle is in charge of political coverage for the BBC across TV, radio and digital platforms.  She’s led the team at Westminster for the last 8 years during a tumultuous time in British politics. In the role, she’s covered two referendums, three General Elections, and numerous leadership challenges. Katy has built strong relationships at Westminster with the political parties and the key people who run Number 10 Downing Street.  In 2019 she negotiated a series of election programmes, including the head to head debate with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. She was responsible for the 2015  ‘kitchen’ interviews where party leaders gave frank exchanges in the comfort of their own homes.  It led to days of exclusive front page stories. Katy has worked at the BBC for more than 30 years.  Starting at the World Service at the age of 19, Katy later moved to edit a number of high profile radio programmes, including the flagship ‘Today’. After a number of years in radio, Katy moved to edit the One, Six, and Ten O’clock flagship TV News programmes. With millions tuning in each night, she was responsible for providing the audience with the best of the BBC’s journalism, while ensuring it was accurate and impartial at all times. She now leads a team of 100 people managing political coverage for television, radio and digital output, and the biggest political programmes in the UK.    Katy lives in London with her husband and two sons and loves to run along the River Thames.