Elections 2026 - 08/05/2026 - 1 - 09:30 am Friday, May 8 on BBC One London

About this Broadcast

08/05/2026 - 1
Season 1, Episode 1

Sophie Raworth takes over the reins, presenting comprehensive coverage of the results of this year's English council elections. She will be joined by Kirsty Wark in Edinburgh and Clive Myrie in Cardiff, as the early results for the crucial Holyrood and Senedd elections are also announced. Vicki Young gathers the election data on her giant screen and Professor Sir John Curtice analyses the underlying trends. BBC correspondents reports from the key counts and representatives of the main parties give their reaction to the emerging political landscape

HD subtitles 16x9

Economics/Social Advisory Social/Political Issues/Economics

Did You Know..

Sophie Raworth (Presenter)

Born: May 15, 1968 in Redhill, Surrey

Best Known For: Being a newsreader.

Early-life: Sophie Jane Raworth was born in Redhill, Surrey, on May 15, 1968. She was brought up in Twickenham. After studying French and German at the University of Manchester, she spent a year teaching English to teenagers in Toulouse. She went on to study for a postgraduate course in broadcasting and journalism at City University London. She joined the BBC as a news reporter in 1992. She worked for Greater Manchester Radio before becoming the BBC Regions correspondent in Brussels in 1994. In May 1995, she became a presenter of the BBC's Look North programme in Leeds.

Career: Raworth made the switch to national TV in 1997 to co-present the BBC's Breakfast News programme. She was part of the presenting team on Breakfast when it launched in 2000. In January 2003, she began presenting the BBC Six O'Clock News. In 2006, she became the main presenter of the BBC One O'Clock News. She has also presented a number of BBC news specials.

Quote: 'I live in dread of losing my diary, as it has everything in it from the children's play dates to my work meetings and where I have to be.'

Trivia: Raworth has completed a number of marathons.

Kirsty Wark (Presenter)

Born: February 03, 1955 in Dumfries

Best Known For: Presenting Newsnight.

Early-life: Kirsteen Anne Wark was born in Dumfries on February 3, 1955 to Jimmy Wark, a solicitor, and Roberta Wark, a schoolteacher. After studying history at the University of Edinburgh, Kirsty joined the BBC in 1976 as a graduate researcher for BBC Radio Scotland. She made the switch to TV in 1982 when she began producing BBC Scotland's political programme Agenda and current affairs show Current Account.

Career: Wark moved in front of the camera to present Seven Days and Left, Right and Centre for BBC Scotland. Presenter roles followed on Breakfast Time, The Late Show and One Foot in the Past. Since 1993, she has been one of the main presenters of Newsnight. Wark has also hosted The Book Quiz, A Question of Genius, and A Question of Taste. In 2011, she reached the final of Celebrity MasterChef, losing out to eventual winner Phil Vickery.

Quote: 'I'd say that my work requires no cynicism, but a lot of scepticism.'

Trivia: In 1990, Wark set up the production company Wark-Clements with her husband, producer Alan Clements. In 2004, it merged with Ideal World to form IWC Media. A year later, it became part of RDF Media.

Clive Myrie (Presenter)

John Curtice (Commentator)