Andrew Neil is a newspaper editor, publisher, broadcaster and business consultant on media matters working out of London, New York, Edinburgh and France.
He has presented both The Daily Politics on BBC Two and This Week on BBC One since January 2003.
Born in Scotland in 1949, Andrew attended Paisley Grammar School and the University of Glasgow, studying economics at the same university where Adam Smith wrote his famous "Wealth of Nations" in the 18th Century.
Graduating in 1971 with an MA (Hons) in Political Economy and Political Science, his first job was as political adviser to the environment secretary in Edward Heath's Conservative Government.
He specialised in housing policy, regularly briefing ministers and Members of Parliament.
Honorary degrees
During his career he has been UK editor of the Economist, editor of the Sunday Times, executive chairman of Sky Television, executive editor of Fox Television News of America and a leading anchorman on British political television.
Since 1996 he has been publisher (chief executive and editor-in-chief) of Press Holdings, owners of The Business in London and The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and Evening News in Edinburgh.
Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA). He has honorary degrees from Napier University (Edinburgh) and the University of Paisley.
In the autumn of 1999 he was elected Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews, one of the oldest and most distinguished universities in the world.
On stepping down from that post in the autumn of 2002 he was made a Doctor of Laws by the university.
Who's Who lists his recreations as dining out in London, New York, the south of France and Aspen, where he has also been known to ski.
Under clubs he lists the Royal Automobile Club and Tramp, where he has been known to dance, but (these days) not often!
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