Channel 4 firms up General Election coverage with heavyweight analysis, announces Rest is Politics deal

24 May 2024

Following the announcement that the General Election will take place on 4th July, Channel 4 has unveiled more of its plans for top-tier analysis throughout the campaign period. The broadcaster was first to confirm its presenter line-up for election night, with Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emily Maitlis being joined exclusively throughout the night by The Rest is Politics podcast hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart who will bring their own inimitable analysis. Today Channel 4 announces that, in addition to featuring Campbell and Stewart in the overnight coverage, the Rest is Politics team has agreed an exclusive partnership with Channel 4 to, for the first time, broadcast the chart-topping podcast, with six episodes to be shown on the channel in the run up to polling day. The first episode will going out on Channel 4 and Channel 4 streaming on Wednesday 29th May at 11.05pm, with subsequent episodes being broadcast  each Tuesday at 11.10pm up until the week of election day.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy is lead London presenter of Channel 4 News, and Emily Maitlis is the co-presenter of Global’s daily podcast The News Agents. Cathy Newman will be presenting from the campaign HQs for the Conservatives and Labour. Clare Balding -who had previously been announced as part of the line-up- will not be able to join the studio team due to Wimbledon commitments. Her replacement will be announced in due course.  An array of frontline politicians and commentators across the political spectrum will join the team throughout the coverage to provide insight, and an audience of voters will be present in the studio to engage in debate as the night unfolds.     

C4 News’ Political Editor Gary Gibbon will be on hand throughout for his first class analysis. And a team of reporters will be at key counts across the country capturing the moments of drama as the results are declared.

Going beyond Westminster, and in a uniquely Channel 4 style, the coverage will also include exclusively commissioned inserts from Gogglebox favourites, providing their take on the election campaign.

In relation to the Rest is Politics announcement, Rory Stewart says: “I’m really looking forward to bringing the podcast to life on TV with Alastair live on Channel 4. Hopefully we can still disagree agreeably even in the heat of the electoral madness.”

Alastair Campbell says: “The success and continuing growth of The Rest Is Politics podcast has shown there is a huge appetite for serious sensible debate and on what promises to be one of the most important and exciting election nights in many a year I am delighted that Rory Stewart and I will be part of Channel 4’s coverage.”

Tony Pastor, co-founder of Goalhanger says: “We’re delighted to have been offered the chance to bring The Rest Is Politics to the screen on election night. We think the show’s regular 700,000 listeners will really enjoy seeing Rory and Alastair analyse the election live on Channel 4.”

Louisa Compton, Channel 4’s Head of News and Current Affairs and Specialist Factual and Sport  says: “We are delighted to bring one of the nation’s best loved political podcasts to Channel 4 for the run-up to the General Election.”

Alastair Campbell

Alastair Campbell is a podcaster, writer and strategist best known for his role as Tony Blair's spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy. Still active in Labour politics, he now splits his time between hosting The Rest Is Politics, writing, speaking, charitable fundraising, politics and campaigning.

Rory Stewart

Rory Stewart is a podcaster, diplomat, author, explorer, academic, and former politician – serving in successive Conservative governments as Minister for Environment, Minister of State for International Development, Minister of State for Africa, and Minister of State for Prisons. Rory is the host of The Rest Is Politics podcast, as well as being a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson