Gavin Esler


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Praise for ‘How Britain Ends’

“In the coming years, many people will be writing about the end of the UK. They’ll all quote this wonderful and curiously moving book. I know I will.”
James Hawes, author of The Shortest History of England'

“Both timely and provocative.”
Alex Massie, The Sunday Times

“Esler ... has written a fascinating book that draws on poetry, literature and on-the-ground reporting.”
Iain Martin, The Times

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Gavin Esler is an award winning broadcaster and podcaster, journalist, and writer. He is the holder of a Royal Television Society award, a Sony Gold (radio) award, and two Lovie awards for his podcast series about Vladimir Putin, The Big Steal, which has also been nominated for the 2021 Webby Award for Best Documentary Podcast. His current podcast series This is Not A Drill explores threats to global stability from Ukraine to China to the Middle East.

Having been the BBC’s Chief North America Correspondent for eight years, based in Washington and frequently reporting from the White House mostly during the Clinton presidency, Gavin has also reported from countries as diverse as China, Peru, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, Russia, Jordan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and from the Aleutian Islands, as well as all across Europe.

On returning to the UK, he joined the presenting team on the BBC’s flagship news and current affairs programme Newsnight. Gavin is known for his reporting and presenting work at the BBC, and has been the main presenter on Dateline London on the BBC News Channel and BBC World and numerous other programmes, including Hardtalk. He left the BBC in 2018 and is now a freelance journalist and writer.

Gavin is a visiting lecturer in various academic institutions, large corporations, and public service organisations including the British military. In 2024 after two consecutive 5 year terms Gavin has stepped back from being Chancellor of University of Kent. He is a voting member of BAFTA.

Gavin is also the author of five novels (Loyalties, Deep Blue, The Blood Brother, A Scandalous Man and Power Play) and four non-fiction books (The United States of Anger, Lessons from the Top, Brexit Without the Bullshit and How Britain Ends.)

Lessons from the Top was inspired by Gavin’s own conversations and interviews with numerous heads of state & world leaders. These include Bill Clinton, Angela Merkel, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and many other accomplished communicators ranging from Dolly Parton and Angelina Jolie to leaders of terrorist groups. The book examines how successful leaders tell stories to educate, persuade and bring about change. Gavin is often invited to discuss these lessons with business, military and public sector leaders.

In his most book, Britain is better than this (September 2023), Gavin delves into the fundamental issues with the design of the British political system, The House of Lords and House of Commons, as well as the media. Using real life examples such as ‘Partygate’, Brexit and the MP expenses scandal to understand what is going wrong in our government, Gavin tackles the question: What do we need to do to build a better future?