Peter Henley (presenter)
Encyclopedia
Peter Henley is BBC South
's political editor
, and has been reporting in the south of England for over twenty years.
while still at university, Peter went on to Pennine Radio
, where he was a reporter and newsreader for the Bradford
station. This led him to move to Radio 210 in Reading
, where he won a Sony award for coverage of the Clapham rail crash.
Switching from radio to television, Peter became a reporter for southern ITV
franchisee Television South
, filing special reports from Saudi Arabia
during the Gulf War
, and covering the weeks in which Michael Heseltine
fought to replace Margaret Thatcher
. When TVS lost their ITV franchise, Peter transferred to the new contractor, Meridian Broadcasting
as a reporter and played a par t in launching Meridian's Thames Valley
news service. It was while here that he became one of Meridian's political correspondents, fronting Meridian's political coverage of the 1997 general election
, a role he later repeated in the 2001 election
.
In the autumn of 2001, Peter transferred to the BBC
to become BBC South's Health correspondent. He soon after took his current role as political editor. His role includes presenting the regional section of The Politics Show
, broadcast weekly, and to present political stories on the regional television news programmes South Today
and BBC Oxford News and on the regions local radio stations; Radio Berkshire
, Radio Oxford
and Radio Solent
. He also occasioanlly appears on the BBC News Channel reporting on political issues in the South, and has reported from the Portsmouth and Romsey counts at the 2005
and 2010 general elections for the national BBC election programmes.
Part of Peters popularity is sourced from the way in which he connects with the viewer. His belief that people should care about what happens in Westminster and how is affects local people, often results in their opinions being heard and voiced. His programme is often broadcast from a public location and audiences are occasionally used. Peters use of technology has always extended this bond with the viewer. Text messages and responses left on social media sites are often posed to the panel on his programme, and he keeps the public informed through his BBC News correspondents blog, and his Henley's Hustings blog before it. Facebook
and Twitter
are also used, with his following '@BBCPeter H'. This dedication recently saw him receive the Royal Television Award for journalist of the year 2009 in the South of England.
, where he read Philosophy. Peter is married to Samantha Reed, a councellor, with three sons, Ben, Harry and Toby, and lives in the New Forest
in Hampshire.
Peter enjoys a range of hobbies, including playing golf and cricket - as well as pursuing his love for technology.
BBC South
BBC South is the BBC English Region serving West Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, western Berkshire, Oxfordshire, south east Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight.-Television:...
's political editor
Political Editor
The political editor of a newspaper or broadcast media is the senior political reporter who covers politics and related matters for the newspaper or station...
, and has been reporting in the south of England for over twenty years.
Career
Beginning his media career at BBC Radio LeicesterBBC Radio Leicester
BBC Radio Leicester is the BBC Local Radio service for the English counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. The station broadcasts from studios in Leicester on 104.9 FM, on DAB, and via the BBC iPlayer.-History:...
while still at university, Peter went on to Pennine Radio
Pennine Radio
Pennine Radio may refer to:* Pennine Radio Limited an electronics company in Huddersfield.* Pennine Radio - Former radio station in West Yorkshire, based in Bradford ....
, where he was a reporter and newsreader for the Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
station. This led him to move to Radio 210 in Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, where he won a Sony award for coverage of the Clapham rail crash.
Switching from radio to television, Peter became a reporter for southern ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
franchisee Television South
Television South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
, filing special reports from Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
during the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, and covering the weeks in which Michael Heseltine
Michael Heseltine
Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC is a British businessman, Conservative politician and patron of the Tory Reform Group. He was a Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001 and was a prominent figure in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major...
fought to replace Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. When TVS lost their ITV franchise, Peter transferred to the new contractor, Meridian Broadcasting
Meridian Broadcasting
Meridian Broadcasting is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting Limited....
as a reporter and played a par t in launching Meridian's Thames Valley
Thames Valley
The Thames Valley Region is a loose term for the English counties and towns roughly following the course of the River Thames as it flows from Oxfordshire in the west to London in the east. It includes parts of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, North Hampshire, Surrey and west London...
news service. It was while here that he became one of Meridian's political correspondents, fronting Meridian's political coverage of the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, a role he later repeated in the 2001 election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
.
In the autumn of 2001, Peter transferred to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to become BBC South's Health correspondent. He soon after took his current role as political editor. His role includes presenting the regional section of The Politics Show
The Politics Show
The Politics Show is an hour long BBC One television political programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sundays. The programme usually starts at midday, but is often earlier or later when sporting events clash in the schedules. It was launched in 2003 and was originally presented by Jeremy...
, broadcast weekly, and to present political stories on the regional television news programmes South Today
South Today
South Today is the BBC's regional television news programme for East Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, West Sussex and the western fringes of Surrey...
and BBC Oxford News and on the regions local radio stations; Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Berkshire, as well as parts of North Hampshire, including Basingstoke. Radio Berkshire broadcasts on 94.6 , 95.4 , 104.1 and 104.4 FM from its studios at Caversham Park near Reading. The 104.1 FM signal is the strongest...
, Radio Oxford
BBC Radio Oxford
BBC Radio Oxford is the BBC Local Radio station for the English county of Oxfordshire, broadcasting on 95.2 FM via the Oxford transmitter and online. The station broadcasts live from the BBC's Summertown studios in Oxford between 5am and 7pm each weekday, for over 13 hours on Saturdays & 19 hours...
and Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent is the BBC Local Radio service for the Isle of Wight and the English counties of Hampshire and Dorset. Its studios are located in Southampton, in the same purpose-built office block in Havelock Road as the BBC South Today news studios, and there are district offices in Portsmouth,...
. He also occasioanlly appears on the BBC News Channel reporting on political issues in the South, and has reported from the Portsmouth and Romsey counts at the 2005
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
and 2010 general elections for the national BBC election programmes.
Part of Peters popularity is sourced from the way in which he connects with the viewer. His belief that people should care about what happens in Westminster and how is affects local people, often results in their opinions being heard and voiced. His programme is often broadcast from a public location and audiences are occasionally used. Peters use of technology has always extended this bond with the viewer. Text messages and responses left on social media sites are often posed to the panel on his programme, and he keeps the public informed through his BBC News correspondents blog, and his Henley's Hustings blog before it. Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
are also used, with his following '@BBCPeter H'. This dedication recently saw him receive the Royal Television Award for journalist of the year 2009 in the South of England.
Personal Life
Peter was born in 1964, and studied at the University of LeicesterUniversity of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, where he read Philosophy. Peter is married to Samantha Reed, a councellor, with three sons, Ben, Harry and Toby, and lives in the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
in Hampshire.
Peter enjoys a range of hobbies, including playing golf and cricket - as well as pursuing his love for technology.