The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2019 – Media: Broadcast

Head of comedy, Channel 4
Believing she has “one of the best jobs in the world”, McDermott has hit the sweet spot with a string of hits including Derry Girls — back for a third series — and new show Year of the Rabbit.

Political editor, BBC
She seems to have been a permanent fixture on our TVs and radio ever since the Brexit debacle started. Kuenssberg, the daughter of a Scottish businessman, was the first woman to be appointed political editor of the BBC when she took up her post in July 2015. A target for trolls and unpopular with supporters of Jeremy Corbyn, it was reported she was given a bodyguard at the Labour conference in 2017.

Journalist, presenter, ITV | NEW
Hossain is an award-winning journalist and ITN newscaster. Previously presenting for ITV News London, she is now lead anchor on the ITV lunchtime news. She is the winner of many awards including RTS Presenter of the Year for Regional News. When she isn’t writing or presenting, she works on documentary programmes.

Journalist and presenter, BBC 2
The habitual insomniac doesn’t even switch off when the cameras stop rolling. With a glass of rosé or vodka, she continues to listen to news all through the night and early morning. Her dedication and love for her job has earned her many awards, including RTS Television Journalism and Network Presenter of the Year awards, both this year.

DJ and presenter, BBC | NEW
The 6 Music presenter, who began her career as the singer in punk rock band Kenickie, took on Desert Island Discs in Kirsty Young’s absence amid much controversy. She is part-time DJ, TV presenter, singer, author, comedian, model. What can she not do?

BBC economics editor | NEW
Born and brought up in Manchester, Islam joined the BBC in July after a five-year stint as political editor of Sky News and before that economics editor at Channel 4 News and The Observer. Winner of multiple awards including three from the Royal Television Society. On leaving Sky this year he wrote that he found the “weaponisation of betrayal politics… deeply troubling”.

Presenter, CNN | NEW
The Sudanese London-based presenter has won many awards for her commitment to journalism. Most recently she has received the prestigious 2019 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University award for her “fearless reporting across Africa.”

Political editor, Sky News | NEW
Previously a journalist for the Financial Times and The Times, Sky News’s newly-appointed political editor has been at the heart of Westminster in a turbulent year.

TV journalist, Channel 4 | NEW
Recently named TV Journalist of the Year by the Royal Television Society, Davies is the home affairs correspondent for Channel 4 News, covering Wales and the West of England. He has reported on high profile criminal cases and is seen as a core figure in UK broadcasting.

Director of radio and education, BBC
Former politician Purnell has strategic, editorial and budgetary responsibility across the BBC’s arts, children’s, education, music and network radio output. Also leads the BBC’s partnership activity and the development of BBC Ideas and represents the Radio and Education division on the BBC executive committee.

Executive editor of Voice and AI, BBC
Responsible for developing and running new Voice AI platforms, including Voice-native services from news to children’s content. Had a 15-year career as an investigative producer and presenter and ran digital journalism teams such as the BBC Trending unit and World Hacks, the broadcaster’s first dedicated solutions-focused journalism unit.

Journalist and television presenter, BBC
Bruce became only the fourth presenter — and first woman — to present the BBC’s flagship Question Time this year, although the move has not been without its controversies. In January Labour asked the BBC for a correction following a row over Bruce’s treatment of Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott. Her new position is among a string of roles for Bruce at the Beeb which includes presenting the Antiques Roadshow.

Director general of the BBC
Hall joined the BBC as a trainee in 1973 and has since been responsible for launching BBC Parliament, Radio 5 Live, BBC News 24 and BBC News Online. He has occupied the top job since 2013 and earlier this year described fake news as “the poison in the bloodstream of our societies”. Last month the BBC announced plans to help tackle the problem with help from major tech firms including Google, Twitter and Facebook.

TV personality
Morgan’s power lies in his 6.77 million followers on Twitter and his verbose appearance three days a week as co-anchor on the ITV Breakfast programme Good Morning Britain. An arch-Brexiteer who routinely lambasts Remainers, his TV contract is reportedly up at the end of the year — where will he go next?

CEO, Sky
Darroch was appointed CEO in December 2007, having spent many years at both the Dixons Group and Procter & Gamble. This year he oversaw a huge Sky success with the original docu-drama Chernobyl, and recently vowed to double spend on originals from the newly-launched Sky Studios to “complement all of the acquired programming that we are getting from around the world.” He is also an ambassador for WWF.

Radio host The Emma Barnett Show | NEW
Barnett’s mid-morning show has made her one of BBC Radio 5 Live’s most-talked about hosts. In 2019, she became a regular presenter on BBC 2’s Newsnight. She was formerly The Daily Telegraph’s digital media and then women’s editor.

LBC, radio host | NEW
The outspoken LBC radio host has become a leading voice in the Brexit debates, famous for his no-nonsense phone-in conversations with callers about Brexit. Last year O’Brien published How to be Right in a World Gone Wrong, a hilarious guide to dealing with other people’s ‘faulty opinions’.

Channel 4, CEO
Mahon became the first female CEO of a major UK broadcaster, after succeeding David Abraham as the chief executive of Channel 4 in 2017. Her most recent mission has been attempting to draw audiences back to mainstream television from the video streaming giants.

Channel 4, director of programmes | NEW
Since becoming Channel 4’s director of programmes in 2018, Ian Katz has commissioned a slew of new shows focusing the spotlight on to the most important issues affecting Britain today. Prior to this, he was the editor of Newsnight and before that the deputy editor of The Guardian.

The Progress 1000, in partnership with the global bank Citi, is the Evening Standard’s celebration of the people changing London’s future for the better. #Progress1000