In September 2001, Abell joined the Press Complaints Commission as a complaints officer;[4] he completed other roles at the PCC including press officer, assistant director, and deputy director before being appointed director of the PCC in December 2009.[5] In August 2013, Abell joined The Sun as managing editor,[6] staying in the role until 2016.[7]
In March 2014, Abell started co-presenting a show on LBC Radio alongside Sky News television presenter Kay Burley on Sunday mornings.[8] From August 2014, the show was co-presented by Abell and LBC's Petrie Hosken.[citation needed]
In January 2015, Abell was given his own show from 8am to 10am on Sundays.[citation needed] From April 2016, Abell moved to the afternoon slot on Sundays of 3pm to 6pm.[citation needed]
In 2015, Abell was heavily criticised for publishing a racist anti-immigration article by Katie Hopkins in The Sun. The article argued for "gunships sending these boats back to their own country," and described migrants as "like cockroaches." It concluded that Britain should "force migrants back to their shores and burn the boats."[9][2][10]
In May 2018, Abell's first book, How Britain Really Works, was published by John Murray.[14]
Abell was formerly a regular presenter on the BBC Radio 4 series Front Row.[15] In April 2020, it was announced that Abell would be joining the upcoming radio station Times Radio as a presenter. He was also named as the station's launch director.[16]
In November 2020, he released his second book, Things I Learned on the 6.28: A Guide to Daily Reading.[17] In September 2021, The Bookseller reported that HarperCollins had agreed to a three-book deal with Abell's agents including his first work of crime fiction and a non-fiction title.[18] HarperCollins has published three books in his Jake Jackson series.[19]
In February 2025, Abell began co-presenting a new breakfast show schedule on Times Radio alongside the station's political editor, Kate McCann.[20]
