Ayesha Hazarika

Biography

Host of Times Radio every Friday (1–4pm), and Saturday and Sunday Drive (4–7pm), where she dissects the latest news and geopolitical events with a plethora of interesting and engaging guests, and presents its weekly Culture Hour. Ayesha also sits in the political hotseat on Good Morning Britain (ITV) on a biweekly basis throughout the year. She is a regular contributor on Question Time (BBC Two), The Jeremy Vine Show (Channel 5), Lorraine (ITV), and is often seen exercising her funny bones on The News Quiz (Radio 4) and Have I Got News For You (BBC One).

In 2024, Ayesha Hazarika MBE, political commentator, journalist and broadcaster, was granted a prestigious lifetime peerage and elevated to the House of Lords. Nominated by Labour and conferred by His Majesty.

In the world of podcasting, Ayesha presented The Diplomat’s official companion podcast for Netflix, interviewing stars of the show Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell and Allison Janney. Prior to the last election, Ayesha presented the hit podcast The Power Test, where she delved into questions about the potential future government. She also co-hosted Take on Tomorrow, the hugely successful podcast series produced by PwC, aiming to understand the role businesses can play in solving some of the biggest issues facing society today.

Ayesha is in high demand as a speaker and host due to her unique ability to combine laser-sharp political insight gleaned from the inside track at Westminster with her comedic perspective. She considers how politics works, how messages are communicated and how government policy is formed and influenced. She also addresses the future of culture, media and the creative industries in a climate of cuts and unequal opportunities. As well as providing political overview and analysis, Ayesha looks at the role of women in politics and the challenges they often face in their careers, interspersed with laugh-out-loud humour.

Ayesha has made a name for herself in the world of print by contributing to The Scotsman, The Independent, Financial Times, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, New Statesman, The i Paper and Grazia. She also co-authored Punch & Judy Politics, an in-depth, behind-the-scenes account of what happens during the preparation and run-up to weekly Prime Minister’s Questions.

Born in Scotland to parents of Indian Muslim descent, Ayesha studied law before beginning her career as a press officer at the Department of Trade and Industry. She then took what she thought was a natural diversion into stand-up comedy before pivoting back to politics as a Special Adviser for the Labour Party. Over eight years in Government and Opposition, she worked with Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband, advising them on Prime Minister’s Questions, speeches, media and policy, while also leading initiatives on topics such as women and equality.

Since leaving frontline politics, Ayesha’s expertise has become highly sought after due to her unique ability to analyse and comment on current affairs with her signature wit and insight. Additional TV and radio credits include Politics Live (BBC Two), The Talk (TalkTV), Sky Papers (Sky News), Newsnight (BBC Two), Debate Night (BBC Scotland), The Media Show (Radio 4), The Today Programme (Radio 4), CNN News, Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two), The Blame Game (BBC Two and BBC One Northern Ireland), and Breaking the News (Radio Scotland).

As a comedian, she often explores the current state of feminism with humour and honesty. She has toured three sell-out shows across the UK, each including residencies at the prestigious Soho Theatre: Tales From The Pink Bus (2016), Girl On Girl – The Fight For Feminism (2018), and State of the Nation (2022).