Paul Brand: The Remarkable Career of ITV News’ Award-Winning UK Editor and Presenter
From starting in regional reporting in Wales to leading major political investigations, Paul Brand has become one of ITV News' best-known journalists, presenters, and current affairs reporters.
Paul Brand is a Welsh journalist, broadcaster, and TV presenter, best known as the UK Editor of ITV News. He started in regional television and has since covered some of the biggest political and current affairs stories in British broadcasting. He also presents ITV’s long-running program Tonight and often appears on the Evening News, News at Ten, and Good Morning Britain. Outside of TV, Brand has hosted shows on LBC radio and is known for his investigations into politics, public policy, social issues, and the lives of everyday people.
This article looks at Paul Brand’s background, his journalism career, his rise at ITV News, his work on Tonight, his political and investigative reporting, his broadcasting roles, and his main achievements.
Who Is Paul Brand?
Paul Brand is an ITV News journalist who reports, investigates, analyzes politics, and presents on TV. As UK Editor, he covers major stories that affect people across the country and looks at the political decisions and public policies behind them.
He has become well known for his impactful investigations and exclusive political stories. Instead of focusing solely on Westminster, Brand often examines how government decisions affect communities, public services, and individuals.
His career also shows how modern TV journalism is changing. Senior reporters now often work across breaking news, documentaries, interviews, digital journalism, TV presenting, podcasts, and radio. Brand has experience in all these areas.
Paul Brand’s Early Career in Journalism
Brand started his broadcasting career at ITV Wales, first as a production journalist and then as a reporter. Working in regional news helped him build key skills for TV journalism, like researching stories, interviewing people, and reporting on location.
Moving Into Political Reporting
He later worked as a political correspondent at ITV Yorkshire and ITV Tyne Tees & Border. These roles gave him experience covering how national political decisions affect people outside Westminster.
He then covered politics for Good Morning Britain, reaching a national TV audience.
Joining the National ITV News Team
In 2016, Brand joined the ITV News network. This was a key step in his career and let him report on some of Britain’s biggest political events.
During the 2016 EU referendum, he was the first reporter to announce the important Sunderland result, which showed a strong Leave vote and gave an early hint about the referendum’s direction.
Paul Brand and ITV News
As a national political correspondent, Brand reported on general elections, leadership contests, government policies, and major events at Westminster.
He became known for mixing political journalism with original investigations. Rather than just reporting what politicians said, he often uncovered new information and looked at the impact of government decisions.
Paul Brand as UK Editor of ITV News
Brand later became UK Editor of ITV News, a senior position that expanded his responsibilities beyond traditional political reporting.
As UK Editor, he covers major national stories and looks at the politics and policies behind them. This role lets him report on topics such as healthcare, social policy, elections, and major public debates.
This role has made Paul Brand a familiar face to viewers interested in British politics and national news.
Paul Brand and the Tonight Program
A big moment in Brand’s broadcasting career came in 2022, when ITV announced he would become the presenter of Tonight.
The program has a long history of covering important social, political, and consumer issues. Brand took over from Julie Etchingham as lead presenter, while also continuing as ITV News UK Editor.
Investigative Work for Tonight
Before he became the regular presenter, Brand had already done investigative reporting for the program.
One important project was Searching for Patient Zero: Britain’s AIDS Tragedy, which looked into the identity of the first person known to have died of AIDS in the UK. The program showed Brand’s interest in mixing historical research with sensitive human stories.
Political and Investigative Journalism
Some of Brand’s most well-known journalism came during the coronavirus pandemic.
He investigated the Covid-19 crisis in care homes, including how patients were moved from hospitals to care settings early in the pandemic. This reporting earned him major professional recognition.
Reporting on Downing Street Parties
Brand also reported on gatherings held in Downing Street during Covid restrictions.
One of his exclusives was footage of Downing Street staff joking about a Christmas gathering while restrictions limited social contact across the country. This story became part of the wider Partygate controversy.
Reporting on Conversion Therapy
Brand has also investigated so-called conversion therapy. His reporting and interviews brought more public and political attention to the issue and became another key part of his investigative work.
Paul Brand on Good Morning Britain, News at Ten and LBC
Brand’s work goes beyond reporting for ITV News.
He appears on major ITV news programs like the Evening News and News at Ten, and has often presented Good Morning Britain.
He has also presented on LBC, where the radio format allows him to talk about and share social stories directly with guests and callers.
These roles show how he has moved from mainly being a political correspondent to becoming a broader TV and radio presenter in the UK.
Awards and Professional Recognition
Paul Brand has earned major recognition for his journalism.
He was named Political Journalist of the Year at the 2020 British Journalism Awards for his reporting on the Covid-19 crisis in care homes.
He later received major awards from the Royal Television Society for his political reporting and investigative journalism. His Partygate reporting was also recognized for its impact.
Brand has won several Royal Television Society awards, which have strengthened his reputation in British broadcast journalism.
Paul Brand’s Wider Work
Outside of daily TV news, Brand has worked on other journalistic and public-interest projects.
He hosts the ITV News podcast Acting Prime Minister, where he talks with people from across British politics.
Brand also co-founded School Diversity Week, an initiative focused on LGBT+ inclusion in schools. This work goes alongside his journalism on equality and social policy.
His career now also includes writing. His book Fight to the Death, which looks at the debated topic of assisted dying through personal stories, is set to be published in October 2026.
Why Paul Brand Has Become a Recognizable British Journalist
Paul Brand’s career has grown through a mix of regional reporting, political expertise, investigative journalism, and TV presenting.
His rise from ITV Wales journalist to ITV News UK Editor shows a career built across many levels of British broadcasting. Major investigations into care homes, Downing Street, and conversion therapy have shown he can produce stories with national impact.
His work on Tonight, Good Morning Britain, News at Ten, and LBC has also brought him to wider audiences beyond traditional political reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paul Brand
Who is Paul Brand?
Paul Brand is a Welsh journalist and broadcaster who serves as UK Editor of ITV News. He is also known for presenting ITV’s current affairs program Tonight.
What does Paul Brand do at ITV News?
As UK Editor, Paul Brand covers major stories affecting Britain while reporting on the politics, policies and decisions behind national events.
Is Paul Brand the presenter of Tonight?
Yes. Paul Brand became the lead presenter of ITV’s Tonight program in 2022 while continuing his role at ITV News.
Was Paul Brand a political correspondent?
Yes. Before becoming UK Editor, Brand worked as a political correspondent for ITV News and previously held political reporting roles within ITV’s regional operations.
Does Paul Brand present Good Morning Britain?
Paul Brand has regularly appeared as a presenter on Good Morning Britain, alongside his responsibilities at ITV News and Tonight.
Does Paul Brand work for LBC?
Yes. In addition to his television journalism, Paul Brand has presented programs on LBC radio, discussing current affairs and political issues with callers and guests.
Conclusion
Paul Brand has grown from a regional ITV journalist into an award-winning national reporter, ITV News UK Editor, and current affairs presenter. His experience covers political reporting, investigative journalism, live TV, radio, and documentaries. From raising tough questions about care homes during Covid-19 to reporting on Partygate and presenting Tonight, Brand has built his career on stories that matter to the public. His ongoing work on ITV News, Good Morning Britain, News at Ten, and LBC has made him a well-known figure in British journalism today.
