Ben moves on

Ben De Pear is stepping down as Editor of Channel 4 News at the end of the year, after nearly ten years in post. 

Born in Hammersmith in 1970, his education followed his father's employment with British Airways around the world. He started out in journalism as an intern on the Staines and Ashford News, joining Sky News as a runner in 1994, moving to foreign producer in 1996, and Africa Editor in 2000. 

In 2005 he joined Channel 4 News as foreign producer, became foreign editor 2008 and was appointed editor in August 2012. In an email to staff, he said he now wanted to 'go out and make different TV and tell stories in a different way'.  Back in March 2017, he told The Guardian, "If Channel 4 is privatised it sets the stopwatch on the existence of Channel 4 News."

Ben is married to Leila Amanpour, Iranian-born photo-journalist, youngest sister of CNN's Christiane.