Inside BBC Laura Kunessberg's famous family and aristocratic upbringing

25 February 2024 , 09:00

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Laura Kuenssberg is never one to shy away from asking challenging questions (Image: PA)

Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC's former political editor, has a fascinating backstory that many people don't know about.

Born in Italy on August 8, 1976, to Sally Kuenssberg and Scottish businessman Nick Kuenssberg, she comes from a family of high achievers. Her dad, who is now an OBE, is currently the chairman of Klik2Learn Limited and Frog Systems Limited, and director of Gabriel Investments.

He speaks four languages fluently and has had a successful international business career. Her grandad on her dad's side was the German-born founder and president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Dr Ekkehard von Kuenssberg. On her mum's side, her grandad was Lord Roberton, a High Court judge in Scotland.

Laura Kuenssberg had a privileged upbringing and comes from a successful family (BBC/October Films/Stuart Powell)

The Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg host grew up in Glasgow and went to a private girls' school called Laurel Bank School. During her time there, she loved history, so she studied it at the University of Edinburgh. Then she flew off to America to learn about journalism at Georgetown University in Washington DC. While there, she worked on a show for NBC News about politics.

Upon her return to the UK, Laura started working on the radio and TV in Glasgow. In March 2000, she joined the BBC team in North East and Cumbria. She did a great job as their home affairs correspondent and made reports for Niall Dickson, who looks after social affairs.

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Laura then became the top political reporter for the BBC and later took charge, making history as the first lady to hold the position. But by the time the 2017 election happened, she became the target of online trolls and received threats. Later, she received abuse from Tory and UKIP supporters.

The political editor is one of the BBC's most well-known faces (PA)

While she was reporting on politics all over the place, Laura had to have bodyguards. They even went with her to the Labour Party conference that lasted four days.

The BBC at the time declined to comment on any rumoured arrangements but a source told The Sun on Sunday: "We take the safety of our staff extremely seriously. Laura is a well-known public figure. She and her team will be covering events with big crowds where there can be hostility, so we want to ensure adequate precautions are taken."

At a Jewish Care business lunch in November 2017, Ms Kuenssberg shared: "I didn't aspire to have the finger pointed at me. What they are trying to do is silence me."

Daniel Bird