Profile of BBC Newsreader Ben Thompson

Ben Thompson, a prominent face on the BBC, is recognized for his work as a news presenter and journalist. He is currently featuring on “Richard Osman's House of Games,” a popular game show on BBC Two. Contestants on the show, comprised of various celebrities, engage in rounds testing their general knowledge, culminating in a final round known as Answer Smash. The show crowns a daily champion, with scores aggregated to declare an overall winner by the week’s end.

Thompson is a familiar presence on BBC Breakfast, where he frequently presents news segments. He also co-hosts “Business Live,” the BBC’s daily business news program. His previous roles include serving as the BBC’s Middle East business correspondent. In this capacity, he reported from countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt, and also presented the “Middle East Business Report,” the BBC’s flagship news program from the region.

The 43-year-old journalist, who is openly gay, maintains a relatively private personal life. He has been in a relationship with Andy Roche since 2011, and the couple resides in London. Despite Thompson’s ties to London, he often references his Northern roots in public appearances and interviews. The couple occasionally shares moments from their life together on social media, celebrating milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries.

In a 2015 interview, Thompson discussed his experiences with coming out as gay, expressing that people take cues from how one approaches the subject. He mentioned, “If you make a big issue of it, I think they will, then it becomes more of an issue. But if you just mention in passing that you have a partner, and it’s a he, then it’s not really an issue.”

Thompson also appreciates receiving messages from viewers who find his visibility as an openly gay man in the media industry inspiring. “I get messages from viewers every now and again, and they say ‘It’s really inspiring that someone can be in your position and be gay,’” he remarked. “If one person watching it can say: ‘Well, he’s gay and he’s doing alright,’ that’s great.”

“Richard Osman’s House of Games” broadcasts from Monday to Friday at 6 pm, inviting viewers to join in the trivia fun along with the celebrity participants.