Keir Simmons

Keir Simmons (born 22 February 1972) is an English journalist. He has been the senior international correspondent for the NBC morning show Today since December 2018. He also appears regularly on the evening broadcast NBC Nightly News, and fills in as an anchor on MSNBC.

Keir Simmons
Simmons reporting from the Parsons Green bombing, 2017
Born (1972-02-22) 22 February 1972
London, England
NationalityBritish
EducationGoldsmiths College (University of London)
OccupationJournalist
Spouse(s)Jessica Binns (m. 2012)
Children2
RelativesMika Simmons

From August 2012 until December 2018, Simmons was a foreign correspondent for NBC News. Previously, he was the UK editor for ITN' s ITV News.

Early life and education

Simmons was born in London, England and grew up in Bristol. He was educated at Wellsway School, a state comprehensive school in the town of Keynsham in Somerset and St Brendans College, a state Catholic school, followed by Goldsmiths College, a constituent college of the University of London, where he earned a bachelor's degree.[1]

Career

Simmons's first job in journalism was as a court reporter covering murders and scandals in London at one of the world's oldest courts, The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly referred to as Old Bailey. Simmons then moved into radio, joining ITN as a reporter for UK's Independent Radio News (IRN) in 1996, before becoming a general reporter on its ITV News service in 1998.

While at ITV, Simmons reported on major domestic and international stories including the 2004 tsunami, the Mumbai terror attacks, the murder of Alexander Litvinenko and the Virginia Tech massacre. He was one of the first journalists to cover the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann.[2]

In 2010, Simmons was the first to report that the UK government was paying millions of pounds in compensation to former prisoners of Guantanamo Bay.[2]

On 30 September 2010 ITV News announced that Simmons would be appointed as the new UK Editor.[3]

In 2011, Simmons led ITV's coverage of the country's phone hacking scandal, breaking countless exclusive stories including news of the arrest of key figures and the resignation of the head of the police, Scotland Yard's Commissioner.[2]

While working as a reporter for ITV News, Simmons occasionally made on-air appearances on Sky News, 5 News, and ITV London's London Tonight. In September and October 2011, he guest presented on ITV Breakfast program Daybreak.

On 27 August 2012 Simmons left ITN to join NBC News as a London-based foreign correspondent.[2] He reported for all platforms of NBC News, including Today, Nightly News, MSNBC, and NBCNews.com.

NBC News (2012 onwards)

Since joining NBC News, Simmons has had a track record of exclusive and prominent interviews. He has covered almost every major world story, including Europe's wave of terror attacks, the Trump Russia scandal, the selection of Pope Francis, and the 2016 Summer Olympics, as well as interviews with many world leaders and some of the most recognized figures in Hollywood.

In March 2013, Simmons covered the resignation of Pope Benedict and selection of Pope Francis for Today from Rome.[4]

In February 2014, he covered the 2014 Winter Olympics from Sochi for NBC.[5]

In November 2015, Simmons covered the Paris terror attacks.[6] Earlier that month, he interviewed Daniel Craig on his final James Bond film, Spectre.[7]

In December 2015, Simmons interviewed Eddie Redmayne and the cast of The Danish Girl to discuss the Oscar buzz surrounding the film.[8]

In March 2016, he covered the Brussels terror attacks for NBC News, appearing on Today, Nightly News and MSNBC.[9]

In May 2016, Simmons interviewed George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Jodie Foster at the Cannes Film Festival for their new film, Money Monster.[10]

In August 2016, he covered the 2016 Summer Olympics from Rio de Janeiro for Today.[11]

Keir Simmons and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Russian Energy Week International Forum in Moscow on 2 October 2019

In December 2016, Simmons interviewed Tom Hanks and Ron Howard about their film adaptation of Dan Brown's novel, Inferno.[12]

In April 2017, he covered the Stockholm truck attack for Today.[13]

In July 2017, Simmons covered the fiery protests across Hamburg, Germany in response to the G20 Summit held there.[14] His coverage was intense, reporting while running from a water cannon and streaming on Facebook Live.

On 28 June and 31 July 2017, and on 8–12 January 2018, he co-hosted Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda, filling in for Kathie Lee Gifford.

In August 2017, Simmons covered the Barcelona attacks for Today.[15]

In February 2018, he covered the 2018 Winter Olympics from Pyeongchang for NBC.[16]

In December 2018, Simmons was named Senior International Correspondent for The Today Show on NBC News.[17] He appears regularly on NBC Nightly News and as a fill-in anchor on MSNBC.

Awards

In 2003, he was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award.[18]

In July 2016 he was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category 'Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine' for his contribution to a Dateline NBC special 'Terror in Paris'.[19]

In July 2017 he was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category 'Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine' for his contribution to a TODAY Show special 'Terror in Brussels'.[20]

Personal life

In 2012, Simmons married Jessica Binns. Their twin daughters were born later that year.

References
  1. "Keir Simmons - Biography and Images". TV Newsroom. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  2. "Keir Simmons Joins NBC News as London-Based Correspondent". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  3. "ITV News appoints Keir Simmons as its new UK editor". Press Gazette. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  4. "Papal Conclave Coverage: Broadcast and Cable Networks". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  5. "TODAY anchors reveal favorite Olympic moment (hint: it was a 'Miracle')". TODAY.com. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  6. "Terror Attacks in Paris". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  7. TODAY (4 November 2015), Daniel Craig Shares Why He Hopes To ‘Reinvent’ Bond With ‘Spectre’ | TODAY, retrieved 12 February 2019
  8. TODAY (22 December 2015), Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander Talk ‘The Danish Girl’ | TODAY, retrieved 12 February 2019
  9. "Networks Send Anchors, Correspondents to Brussels in Wake of Terror Attacks". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  10. TODAY (13 May 2016), George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster Talk ‘Money Monster’ | TODAY, retrieved 12 February 2019
  11. "Lauer, Holt Lead NBC News Olympics Coverage From Rio". nbcumv.com. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  12. TODAY (20 October 2016), Tom Hanks, Ron Howard Talk 'Inferno,' Take Questions From Fans | TODAY, retrieved 12 February 2019
  13. "Sweden terror attack suspect in custody; Hijacked truck may have carried explosives". NBC News. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  14. "Keir Simmons is Having Quite an Intense 24 Hours in Hamburg". adweek.it. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  15. "Second terror attack in Spain: Police kill 5 suspects in seaside town". NBC News. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  16. Petski, Denise (12 January 2018). "NBC News Sets Winter Olympics Coverage". Deadline. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  17. "NBC's Keir Simmons Is Promoted to Today Show Senior International Correspondent". adweek.it. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  18. LTW – Annual Programme Statement 2003 and Programme Review 2002 (PDF format). London Weekend Television (via Ofcom). Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  19. http://cdn.emmyonline.org/news_37th_nominations_v02.pdf
  20. http://emmyonline.com/download/news_38th_nominations_Final.pdf
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