With over 20 years of broadcast experience, Hayley has won multiple awards—including a BAFTA, Prix Europa, and two RTS Awards—because of her commitment to impactful journalism that doesn’t just inform but drives real societal change. Quite simply, there are few in this field with Hayley’s depth of experience across both investigative journalism and live presenting.
Throughout her career, Hayley has been the face of some of the UK’s most respected and high-profile programmes. From Woman’s Hour to BBC Newsround to 5 Live, she’s been trusted to guide audiences through everything from breaking news, such as the war in Ukraine and the Queens death, to complex social issues such as the Covid Pandemic and the cost of living crisis. She has covered pivotal moments, including the Manchester terror attack, the invasion of Ukraine, and the 5 general elections, all while making split-second editorial decisions live on air. Few presenters have her level of expertise in handling such high-stakes situations with poise and precision.
Hayley’s investigative work sets her apart having led and fronted documentaries for BBC Panorama, ITV Tonight, and numerous other programmes, uncovering stories that have not only shocked the nation but resulted in meaningful change. From Britain’s drug trade to the Post Office scandal, her journalism has consistently exposed hidden truths and driven real accountability. Hayley is a proud journalist who goes beyond the headlines to uncover the stories that truly matter. She has spent two years working undercover to expose failings in maternity hospitals, and home care settings, she’s met with gangsters and prisoners and stood up in court to defend her journalism.
Not only is Hayley an expert in original journalism, she is an experienced, national broadcaster and principled presenter who’s worked across the BBC’s flagship news and current affairs programmes. She's spent 15 years being the main presenter of BBC Newsround, delivering the most complex stories to a young audience and reporting on issues that affect children across the world. She's had her own show on BBC Radio 5 live, where she led the audience through the biggest news stories of the week, responded to breaking news and developing stories and she created the Mental Health clinic and the Parents club which became a social media programme for BBC5live. Hayley has presented for BBC Breakfast TV, The One Show, Panorama, ITV Tonight and Morning Live, with regular appearances on Radio 1, Radio 2, 5Live, Fileon4, Radio 4 and BBC Woman’s Hour, Radio 4,
Hayley has vast experience covering live news and events, from Royal Weddings and coronations to general elections and referendums. She's interviewed David Cameron, Prince William and Michelle Obama and she's challenged the heads of huge organizations such as YouTube, The Post Office and the Metropolitan Police.
Hayley can be trusted to deliver topics sensitively as well as interviewing celebrities and superstars, such as Taylor Swift and Olivia Coleman, with confidence and ease.
In her time outside of the office, Hayley is an ambassador for the female bulimia charity BEAT, an ambassador for iCan the speech impediment charity, she helped set up the BBC Stammering network, she helps at a homeless kitchen, she volunteers at the Foodbank and she is a mother of two beautiful but complicated children.
Credits include:
BBC Investigations Team, BBC (Lead Investigative Journo)
Hayley Hassall show BBC Radio 5Live (Chief Presenter)
Newsround CBBC (Chief Presenter)
File on 4 Radio 4 (Chief Presenter )
Drive BBC 5 Live (Co-presenter)
Women’s Hour (Chief Presenter)
Bitesize daily BBC1 (Presenter)
Tonight ITV (Presenter/Producer)
Christmas City BBC 1 (Presenter)
Winter Olympics BBC Sport (Presenter)
BBC Breakfast BBC 1 (Reporter)
The One Show BBC 1 (Reporter)
Panorama BBC 1 (Presenter/Producer)
Sunday Life BBC 1 (Presenter/Reporter)
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
BAFTA and PRIX EUROPA (2009): Panorama - Britain’s Home Care Scandal
2x Royal Television Society Awards (2007): Best Network Documentary & Best Onscreen New Talent - Panorama - Midwives Undercover
Sanford St Martin Award (2017): Ruth’s Story
ARIA Award Nominee (2020 & 2022): BBC Radio 4 File on 4 - The Post Office Scandal
BAFTA and RTS Nominee (2017, 2019): Ruth’s Story, Child Homelessness
MIND Media Health Award (2010, 2014): CBBC - Male Anorexia, CBBC - Being Me