Peter Preston edited the Guardian in London for twenty years. He is a member of the Scott Trust, which owns the Guardian and the Observer, and now writes columns for both papers.
He had a front seat in the political stalls through five premierships and has reported first-hand on many American elections. He has also had less welcome front seats in many courtrooms from Spycatcher onwards. He is the 'hound from hell' who began the investigations into Neil Hamilton, Tim Smith and Jonathan Aitken.
Preston was born in Leicestershire and went to St John's College, slightly before Tony Blair. He has worked, mostly for the Guardian, as a political reporter, gossip columnist and war correspondent. He is married with four children and lives in south London.
