Andrew Marr: biography

Andrew Marr is one of Britain's best known journalists, political commentators and broadcasters. He is the presenter of the Andrew Marr Show, a Sunday morning current affairs talk show on Britain's BBC One and has interviewed a whole host of the country's top politicians.

Journalistic Beginnings

Marr was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 31 July 1959. He studied English at Trinity Hall, where he was involved in student politics and was a self-described 'raving leftie'. His first break in journalism was as a junior reporter for The Scotsman in 1981, and he became the paper's parliamentary correspondent in 1986. Soon after, he helped to launch The Independent, Britain's then-newest national newspaper. He then moved to The Economist, the influential weekly magazine where Marr soon became political editor. He returned to The Independent in 1992 and became editor of the paper in 1996, at the height of the British press 'price wars' between rivals The Times, The Independent, The Guardian and The Telegraph. After a relaunch that received a mixed response, Marr left the paper for the final time in 1998.

BBC Career

Upon leaving The Independent, Marr wrote as a columnist for the Daily Express and The Observer, before settling into a role at the BBC as political editor in 2000. Marr's affable, enthusiastic manner won him plaudits and made it his mission to bring politics to life for those who felt disconnected from the Westminster village. He gained several big scoops as Political Editor, including an admission by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair that he would not seek to serve a fourth term in office. After the 2005 election, Marr stepped down from the post of Political Editor and began a new role as presenter of the BBC's flagship Sunday morning political programme, Sunday AM. Filling the shoes of veteran broadcaster Sir David Frost was a daunting task, but Marr soon settled into the role and the show as renamed The Andew Marr show in due course.

Outside political reporting

Outside of his role as BBC television presenter, Marr also chairs a weekly Monday-morning Radio 4 discussion called Start the Week, a show which covers arts, current affairs and topical issues with a rotating panel of esteemed guests. Marr has also written many books, including The Day Britain Died, My Trade and a best-selling history of Modern Britain.