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Matt Chorley

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Matt Chorley
NationalityBritish
EducationRichard Huish College
Occupation(s)Journalist, broadcaster
Known forRed Box newsletter and podcast for The Times, and mid-morning political show on Times Radio
SpouseAlyson
Children2
Websitehttps://mattchorley.com/

Matt Chorley is a British journalist, broadcaster and comedian who hosted a live morning politics show, described by him as "politics without the boring bits", on Times Radio.[1] After beginning his career at the Taunton Times, he was a political correspondent for the Western Morning News, the Press Association,[2][3] and the Independent on Sunday before becoming the political editor of MailOnline.[citation needed] He joined The Times in 2016.[4] He has won awards for his political podcast and for his book.[5][6][7] He is also an occasional guest on Have I Got News for You.[8]

In May 2024, it was announced that Chorley would be leaving Times Radio in July in order to take up a new position hosting a daily politics show on BBC Radio 5 Live, which began on 2 September 2024.[9]

Early and personal life

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Chorley was born in 1982.[citation needed] He was brought up near Taunton on the Somerset Levels, and attended Richard Huish College; he did not study at a university.[10] He is married to Alyson, whom he met while working for the Taunton Times. The couple have two daughters. The family's pet is a former guide dog.[11]

Career

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Journalism

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Chorley started his journalistic career reporting at the now-defunct Taunton Times, and then the Western Morning News.[2][12] He moved to London in 2005 to work in the House of Commons press gallery for the Press Association,[3]

Chorley joined The Times in 2016,[4] where he edited the Red Box political email newsletter. He then also started presenting a podcast of the same name, also hosted by The Times, which was subsequently renamed Politics Without The Boring Bits in 2023.[13] In October 2023, The Times launched a weekly podcast called How To Win An Election, presented by Chorley and featuring the former political strategists Peter Mandelson, Danny Finkelstein, and Polly Mackenzie as recurring guests.[14]

In June 2020, Chorley stepped back from writing the newsletter, to present the mid-morning slot at the newly-launched Times Radio from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Thursday.[15][16] In May 2021, he was also given the Friday shift, taking the show to five days a week.[17] In May 2024, Chorley announced his departure from Times Radio, and BBC Radio 5 Live issued a press release stating he will host a weekday afternoons radio show commencing in September 2024.[18] His new politics show launched on 2 September.[19]

Comedy

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In parallel to his early journalistic career in Somerset, Chorley formed part of a comedy trio called Big Day Out, alongside friends Lewis Georgeson and William Kenning.[3] When Chorley left Somerset for London in 2005, his decision was influenced by wanting to spend more time focusing on the comedy sketch group, which had already enjoyed sold-out shows in the capital. In 2007, Big Day Out took their comedy show to the Edinburgh Festival.[3]

In 2019, Chorley toured his one-man political comedy show, This is Not Normal, around the UK.[2][20] In 2022, Chorley toured another show called Who is In Charge Here?[21] In 2024, Chorley toured his third one-man show called Poll Dancer.[12][22]

Book

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In 2023, Chorley published a book titled, Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors: 50 Places That Changed British Politics.[23] The book focuses on unique places outside the traditional corridors of power in Whitehall, that reportedly changed the course of British politics.

Accolades

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At the 2020 Society of Editors' The Press Awards, Red Box won the award for 'best news podcast'.[5] At the 2020 London Press Club, Chorley won 'digital journalist of the year' for his Red Box newsletter and podcast for The Times.[6][24] In February 2021 Chorley was nominated for ‘radio broadcaster of the year’ at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.[25] In September 2022, he was shortlisted in the category 'broadcaster of the year' at The London Press Club Awards.[26] In March 2023, Chorley was nominated in the 'best speech presenter' category at the Audio and Radio Industry Awards (ARIAS).[27] In 2024, the radio show was nominated for 'radio programme of the year' at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.[28]

Chorley's book, Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors: 50 Places That Changed British Politics,[23] won the award for the best 'political book by a non-parliamentarian' at the 2023 Parliamentary Book Awards, organised by the Publishers Association and the Booksellers Association.[7]

Feuds

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Chorley has had a particularly fractious relationship with Andrew Bridgen, the MP for North West Leicestershire, since 2018.[29] In November of that year, Chorley revealed that Bridgen's Conservative colleagues had described him as "spud-u-hate" and “thick as mash”.[30] It is reportedly as a result of this piece that Bridgen refused to vote in support of Theresa May's 2018 Brexit deal at the height of the Brexit negotiations.[31] Chorley has since regularly denounced Bridgen's struggles with the law and with parliamentary standards in his columns,[32][33] and has described the MP among other things as a “deluded attention-seeker”[29] and “the Conservative MP for North West Bullshitshire”.[29][34]

Chorley has also extensively spoken of his dislike of cats, and has even campaigned for Larry the Cat to be evicted from Downing Street.[35]

References

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  1. ^ "Matt Chorley". The Times. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Hill, Phil (27 April 2020). "Matt Chorley to host politics show on Times Radio | Somerset County Gazette". Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Reporter-turned-comedian gets ready for Big Day Out at Edinburgh Festival". HoldTheFrontPage.co.uk. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Matt Chorley - The Press Awards". The Press Awards. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b Tobitt, Charlotte (3 April 2020). "Press Awards reveal winners despite cancelling ceremony over Covid-19". Press Gazette. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b "The i and The Sunday Times take the newspaper of the year awards". London Press Club. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b Anderson, Porter (7 February 2024). "In London: Fêting the New Parliamentary Book Award Winners". Publishing Perspectives. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  8. ^ Brundle, Lotte (21 May 2024). "Matt Chorley to host daytime politics show on BBC Radio 5 Live". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  9. ^ Tobitt, Charlotte (31 May 2024). "Andrew Neil to start at Times Radio one month ahead of election". Press Gazette. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  10. ^ Chorley, Matt (5 July 2019). "Nobody knows what they're doing". Matt Chorley. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  11. ^ Chorley, Matt (2 January 2024). "Matt Chorley on falling for a dog at the Tory party conference". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b Scancariello, Antonio (13 April 2024). "Homecoming show for Taunton comedian Matt Chorley | Somerset County Gazette". Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  13. ^ "The Red Box Politics Podcast on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  14. ^ "The Times signs big political names for How To Win An Election podcast". Podcasting Today. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  15. ^ Tobitt, Charlotte (2 June 2020). "Times Radio launch date and line-up from Frostrup to Pienaar". Press Gazette. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  16. ^ Warrington, James (27 April 2020). "Times Radio taps BBC and Channel 4 stars ahead of summer launch". City A.M. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Matt Chorley goes five days a week on Times Radio". Radio Today. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Matt Chorley joins BBC Radio 5 Live for an exciting new daytime politics show ahead of election". BBC. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  19. ^ "BBC Radio 5 Live shakes up daytime schedule for launch of Matt Chorley's exciting new politics show". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Matt Chorley: This.is.not.normal : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". Chortle. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Matt Chorley asks 'Who Is In Charge Here?' with his new tour". Virgin Radio UK. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  22. ^ Hall, Charlotte (4 March 2024). "'Silliness or satire?' Matt Chorley's new stand-up show dances a fine line | Manchester Evening News". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  23. ^ a b Chorley, Matt (October 2023). Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors: 50 Places That Changed British Politics (1st ed.). HarperCollins UK / William Collins. ISBN 9780008622060.
  24. ^ "The i and Sunday Times win at London Press Club Awards – Society of Editors". Society of Editors. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Radio, audio and podcast nominations for this year's BPG Awards revealed". Advanced Television. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  26. ^ "London Press Club Awards 2022 – Winners and shortlists - London Press Club". London Press Club. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  27. ^ Collins, Steve (30 March 2023). "Nominees and new location announced for ARIAS 2023". Radio Today. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  28. ^ Naylor, James (7 March 2024). "Audio nominations for this year's 50th BPG Awards". Broadcasting Press Guild. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  29. ^ a b c Chorley, Matt (4 November 2022). "Five days of parliament without this 'spud-u-hate' MP is a treat to savour". The Times. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  30. ^ Chorley, Matt (17 November 2018). "The Midlands Machiavelli is an assassin who'd put his weapon on expenses". The Times. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  31. ^ Withers, Matt (21 November 2018). "Tory MP 'refuses to vote with government after being called thick as mash'". The New European. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  32. ^ Chorley, Matt (17 April 2022). "'Dishonest' MP Bridgen 'lied' about conduct in family dispute". The Times. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  33. ^ Chorley, Matt (3 September 2022). "MP Andrew Bridgen ordered to quit home in fight over family potato firm". The Times. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  34. ^ Chorley, Matt (13 January 2023). "Even for lazy Westminster, Andrew Bridgen the anti-science spud will no longer do". The Times. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  35. ^ Chorley, Matt (13 July 2024). "Sir Keir's most pressing task: speak truth to purr and evict Larry the Cat". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
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