Adam Boulton: Building Sky News, covering Westminster, and how political journalism has changed

Legends of News

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Sunday, 11 January 2026 - 1 hour 1 minute

Adam Boulton looks back on a career spent covering British politics at the highest level, from TV-am’s chaotic early days to three decades at Sky News. He recalls interviewing Margaret Thatcher and meeting figures including Ted Heath, Jim Callaghan, Harold Wilson and Alec Douglas-Home, plus the rough-and-ready reality of political reporting when “there were no barriers outside Number 10”. Adam charts his route into journalism via Washington, the BBC World Service, and the early promise — and panic — of TV-am, where he became political editor in his mid-20s. At Sky News, Adam explains why impartiality mattered to him, why he says he never faced editorial interference from Rupert Murdoch, and how he helped build a Westminster operation designed to go live fast and report what was known as events unfolded. He discusses the fall of the Berlin Wall, the rise of spin and special advisers, and why he believes political access has tightened over time. Adam and Dermot also revisit the 2010 leaders’ debates — how they were secured, the “empty chair” threat, and what Adam thinks they achieved — before returning to the hung parliament and his notorious on-air row with Alastair Campbell. Follow Dermot: X: @DermotMurnaghan and @LegendsofNews Instagram: @legendsofnewspodcast 

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