Nicholas Watt

Nicholas Watt, also known as Nick Watt, is a British journalist. He is the current Political Editor on BBC's Newsnight.

Watt studied History at the University of York between 1986-1989, before studying for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism Studies at the University of Wales between 1989–90.

Watt began his career as a political reporter based in Belfast working for The Times as Ireland Correspondent, covering the initial stages of the peace process.

In 1997, he was based in London following his appointment as Political Correspondent for The Times, before joining The Guardian a year later where he worked as European Editor and Chief Political Correspondent.

Between 2007 and 2008, he was the acting Political Editor for The Observer.

In 2012, he appeared on Press Gazette's list of the 'top 50 political reporters', at number 14.

In 2016, Watt left The Guardian to become Political Editor for BBC's Newsnight, replacing Allegra Stratton. The then-editor of Newsnight, Ian Katz, who had also worked at The Guardian earlier, said that Watt was "one of the most trusted, authoritative and engaging journalists in the country. With a background in Northern Ireland, Europe and Westminster he's also uniquely equipped to guide viewers through an increasingly fractured and complex political landscape." A number of BBC journalists were reported to be unhappy with the director of BBC News, James Harding, appointing BBC posts to figures with backgrounds in the newspaper industry, including Watt.

In March 2019, Watt recounted a comment with strong language made by an anonymous cabinet minister under Theresa May.