Jon Kay

Kay was born on 8 November 1969 and grew up in Nantwich, Cheshire, with his three brothers,^[1] attending Abbey Gate College, an independent school in Chester.^[2] He was head boy, gaining three As and a B in General Studies. He took a year out, known as a 'gap year'.^[3]

From the age of 18 he studied at the University of Exeter in Devon. During his studies there, he spent time in the studios of University Radio Exeter, which led to his decision to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. After graduation with a BA degree in Politics in 1992, he joined the BBC as a trainee local reporter.^[4]

After periods at BBC local radio stations, Kay became a full-time reporter for BBC Radio Bristol, making an early documentary on the development of Bradley Stoke.^[5]

Kay worked as a regional reporter for BBC Points West and then moved to the capital as a national news correspondent for BBC London News. He then became a news correspondent for BBC News covering the South-West of the country, but he regularly covers stories in other parts of Britain and around the world. In 2014, Kay reported from Portugal on the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and from Cape Town on the trial of Shrien Dewani (later exonerated for his wife's murder). He was BBC News at Six correspondent during the London Olympics in 2012 and election correspondent during the 2015 general election campaign. Jon Kay is also a regular presenter on BBC Breakfast. In July 2022, it was announced by the BBC that Kay would become the main presenter of BBC Breakfast from Monday to Wednesday.^[6] In 2025, Kay was appointed as one of BBC News chief presenters, based in Salford, joining the ones based in London, Singapore and Washington.^[7]