BBC News To Start Search For First Royal Editor Amid Soaring Audience Interest In Monarchy
EXCLUSIVE: BBC News is gearing up to hire its first royal editor, with potential candidates emerging as the broadcaster looks to capitalize on soaring audience interest in the British monarchy.
BBC News has traditionally appointed royal correspondents, but the corporation has decided to elevate the role after Nicholas Witchell, a 25-year veteran of the beat, announced he will retire in 2024.
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Insiders believe that it will be the first time in the corporation’s history it has installed a royal editor. Jean Seaton, the BBC’s official historian, was unaware of the broadcaster previously having the position.
Recruitment is expected to begin early next year, with the chosen candidate taking their place alongside household names including political editor Chris Mason and international editor Jeremy Bowen.
Speculation is already mounting over who may land the post, which will catapult a journalist into the heart of BBC coverage of key national moments including royal events and deaths.
Early frontrunners are said to include Roya Nikkhah, The Sunday Times royal editor and a contributor to CBS News. She is highly regarded by the BBC having featured in set piece coverage, including commentating on Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee alongside David Dimbleby. “She is the preeminent royal journalist,” said a colleague.
ITV News’ royal editor Chris Ship is considered a contender having worked closely with BBC News CEO Deborah Turness during their time together at ITN. Rhiannon Mills, Sky News’ royal correspondent, also has admirers. “She is very well-liked inside and outside of all the royal households,” a source said.
BBC royal correspondents Jonny Dymond and Daniela Relph have also been touted as capable candidates, though there are questions over whether Dymond would want the job given he is said to enjoy other presenting duties, such as anchoring Radio 4’s World at One.
Nikkhah, Ship, Mills, Dymond, and Relph declined to comment.
BBC editors have special responsibilities to contextualize news and bring unique analysis to developments. They are among the BBC’s best-paid journalists, with Bowen earning as much as ￡235,000 ($295,000) last year.
Announcing the royal editor role in an email to staff, Richard Burgess, BBC director of news content, said the position was being created to reflect “increasing audience interest in stories about the royal family.”
One well-placed observer of the BBC’s output said: “BBC royal coverage has been a mess for a while. Its coverage of set pieces, such as marriages, is very good, but it is less comfortable with the day-to-day philanthropic agenda of the royal family, so reporting lurches from national moments to the family drama. Having an editor will allow the BBC to have an even-handed approach to family issues.”
A BBC insider added that the broadcaster is “sniffy about gossipy stuff” that often drives audience interest, meaning the royal editor will have to bring additional insight to rumbling rows, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s strained relations with senior royals.
The BBC’s careful approach to royal reporting was in evidence last week when it was late to name those accused of making comments about the skin color of Prince Harry and Markle‘s son Archie. King Charles III and Kate Middleton were eventually identified on Radio 4’s Today show after the “dam had broken” on the story, according to an insider.
The royal editor position was announced internally last week amid cuts to BBC News worth ￡7.5M. Some journalists were bemused that the corporation was prioritizing royal journalism while at the same time scaling back other reporting beats.
For example, the BBC has closed the role of home editor, which belongs to Mark Easton. Four home affairs correspondent positions and two community affairs correspondent roles are also being closed. In their place, the BBC is creating a UK editor position, which will be based in Salford, as well as three other UK and community correspondent roles. This is a net reduction of three positions.
The changes have raised questions about the future of Easton, a seasoned editor who earns ￡195,000 a year. Burgess told staff: “I am talking to Mark Easton about future opportunities and how we continue to make the most of his experience and expertise.”
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