Lewis Vaughan Jones – The Calm Voice of BBC Breaking News (& Tortoise Tales)
Lewis Vaughan Jones is a suave British journalist and news presenter currently delivering the day’s drama over at the BBC — all with the composed tone of someone who once had to report on both Barack Obama and a tortoise named Diego. He got his start with ITN and initially cut his teeth at ITV Wales before upgrading to London life, where he served as ITV News’ Acting Health Correspondent and later Political Correspondent.
During his tenure at ITN’s Washington Bureau, Lewis tackled heavyweight news like the Obama presidency and the heartbreaking Sandy Hook shootings. Clearly a man of range, he later joined BBC News in 2017 as a newsreader before being crowned Chief Presenter for BBC Global News — where he’s handled stories ranging from space-grown lettuce to Diego the tortoise, who famously fathered 800 children. Talk about fertility coverage.
Lewis Vaughan Jones Wife: Hannah Vaughan Jones
Lewis isn’t the only media powerhouse in the family. His wife, Hannah Vaughan Jones, is a communications expert with a resume longer than a Brexit negotiation. Now a Senior Advisor at the communications advisory firm BB Partners, she previously spent years behind the news desk at CNN International and Sky News, dazzling viewers with her calm authority and flawless delivery, even at 3 a.m.
Hannah grew up in the West Country (that’s posh for “Bristol”), attended Bristol Grammar School, and went on to globetrot her way through journalism. Before Sky, she was a radio reporter for the BBC in Bristol, worked at the Associated Press, and even had a stint as a TV reporter for Russia Today (RT) in Moscow — because why not report from the Kremlin if you’ve already done Bristol?
She became a mainstay at Sky News, moving from behind-the-scenes as a senior output producer to front-and-center as a presenter. She anchored everything from Typhoon Haiyan to the death of Nelson Mandela and the early days of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2014.
In 2016, Hannah joined CNN International, where she co-anchored CNN Newsroom from the London bureau. One of her most high-profile moments came in 2019 when she moderated a live-streamed Conservative leadership debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt — managing to stay civil even as Twitter exploded.
In 2020, Hannah joined The Celebs, a group of do-gooding public figures (including Frank Bruno and X-Factor winner Sam Bailey), to record a charity cover of “Merry Christmas Everyone” for Alzheimer’s Society and Action for Children. The track hit number 2 on iTunes pop charts — a rare feat for a journalist singing Christmas tunes.
In April 2021, Hannah transitioned from anchoring breaking news to shaping narratives behind the scenes, taking on her new gig as Senior Advisor at BB Partners and stepping away from the CNN spotlight.
Together, Lewis and Hannah Vaughan Jones are the kind of couple that could literally host, moderate, analyze, and fact-check a breaking news event while casually rescuing a stray dog and humming a Christmas tune. Journalism royalty? Probably. Power couple? Absolutely. Tortilla-loving tortoise fans? Unconfirmed, but likely.
BBC Presenters Salaries
BBC presenters based in London have a wide range of salaries, reflecting their roles, experience, and the nature of their programmes. According to the BBC’s 2023/24 annual report, the highest-paid presenters earn between £1.3 million and £1.35 million annually. For instance, Gary Lineker, known for hosting “Match of the Day” and other sports programmes, tops the list with a salary in this range.
Other prominent presenters and their salary bands include:
The Standard
Zoe Ball: £950,000–£954,999
Huw Edwards: £475,000–£479,999
Greg James: £415,000–£419,999
Fiona Bruce: £405,000–£409,999
Naga Munchetty: £345,000–£349,999
Laura Kuenssberg: £325,000–£329,999
Clive Myrie: £310,000–£314,999
Reeta Chakrabarti: £270,000–£274,999
Jon Kay: £225,000–£229,999
Sally Nugent: £178,000–£184,999
It’s important to note that these figures represent salaries for on-air talent directly employed by the BBC and do not include earnings from external production companies or commercial ventures.
For presenters in less prominent roles or those with fewer on-air hours, salaries are correspondingly lower. According to data from Indeed, the average salary for a BBC presenter in London is approximately £57,322 per year, with reported salaries ranging from £7,600 to £159,000.
What Happened to Lewis Vaughan Jones?
Lewis Vaughan Jones, the calm and collected face of BBC News, faced a personal health challenge that could’ve derailed his on-air career. In 2018, after catching what seemed like an ordinary cold, Lewis suddenly lost hearing in his left ear — a life-altering moment that arrived with no warning. As a seasoned broadcaster who depends on hearing for live updates, interviews, and the occasional unpredictable earpiece chaos, this was no small hiccup.
Rather than retreat from the camera, Lewis adapted. He began wearing a hearing aid on-air, embracing transparency and helping reduce stigma around hearing loss. Eventually, he had surgery to install a bone-anchored hearing implant, a tiny device embedded in his skull, with a discreet white magnetic microphone that sticks on like a futuristic accessory. That “white disc” you might spot on the side of his head during broadcasts? That’s it — not a secret gadget, just a small miracle of modern science helping him hear the world again.
Is Lewis Vaughan Jones Married?
Yes — and he’s half of a broadcast power couple. Lewis is married to Hannah Vaughan Jones, a former CNN and Sky News presenter, now a communications advisor and all-around media maven. The two share a son together, conceived through IVF, and their relationship is proof that love can survive breaking news, international time zones, and even the chaos of 3 a.m. Sky News shifts. (Fun fact: Hannah has also run multiple half-marathons, practices yoga, skis, surfs, and sings show tunes — making the rest of us feel incredibly lazy.)
What Nationality is Lewis Vaughan Jones?
Lewis is proudly British, hailing from the United Kingdom. His refined accent and composed delivery practically scream “BBC,” though thankfully in a much more reassuring tone.
Who is the Deaf BBC News Presenter?
That would be Lewis Vaughan Jones himself. After losing most of his hearing virtually overnight, he became one of the few high-profile news anchors to present while managing profound hearing loss. His openness about his condition has earned him praise for raising awareness and showing that hearing loss is no barrier to professionalism — or style.
What’s That White Disc on His Head?
No, it’s not a secret MI6 earpiece. That small, circular white device you may have spotted on the side of Lewis’s head is part of his bone-anchored hearing aid system. It magnetically connects to an implant in his skull and allows sound to bypass the damaged parts of his ear. It’s high-tech, discreet, and kind of superhero-esque.
Lewis Vaughan Jones Salary
Jones earns an annual salary of between from £7,600 to £159,000.
