During my time with the World Service, I worked on various news programmes for radio, and provided punditry for the BBC News Channel and BBC World TV. When the BBC World Service moved to New Broadcasting House, I never imagined I’d be back again in Bush House. I left the BBC in 2023 only to return to Bush House in the presenter’s chair! It’s good to be able to combine two of my great passions: current affairs and broadcasting, and I can't wait to get started on the podcast.
Esau Williams, MPhil candidate and podcast host
08 October 2024
Ex-BBC man comes full circle as new podcast host
Former BBC World Service journalist and presenter, and current King’s MPhil student, finds himself broadcasting again…from the same building
Esau Williams, the new host of the School of Global Affairs podcast, will be recording his episodes in the same building, Bush House, where he once produced programmes for millions of listeners to the BBC World Service.
The building is now used by King's, since being vacated by the BBC in 2012.
Esau worked at the BBC as a journalist and presenter for over 13 years. He produced, edited, and presented some of the corporation’s flagship news and current affairs programmes, and even won the prestigious Peabody Award for his reporting on the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
In 2021 he was sent to cover the presidential election in The Gambia for the World Service and presented several live news programmes on location. He has also interviewed some big names, including among others, former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair on several occasions.
The School’s World: We Got This podcast – now in its sixth season – is having something of a face-lift this year as it moves to a new topical, 30-minute format.
Each episode, Esau and three guest experts from the School of Global Affairs will discuss some of the biggest – and some of the most neglected – news stories from around the world.
Esau said: “I’m very excited and looking forward to presenting the podcast. I know many people feel there is more turmoil in the world than ever before, and it can be difficult to keep up with all that’s going on.
“I’m sure the experts from the School will bring insight and context to each episode, and give a real sense and meaning to world events, free of the spin and misinformation spread online. And despite what some politicians tell you, now is the time for more experts, not less.”
Esau, who describes himself as African by heritage, American by education and culture, and British by residence, is currently enrolled in the School’s African Leadership Centre as an MPhil student, en-route to doing his PhD. His research is looking at the ontology of the state and its linkages to conflict and instability in Africa.
Bush House was the home to the BBC World Service for over 70 years, until their move in 2012 to New Broadcasting House. King’s College moved in during 2016 and the building is now home – amongst other things - to its School of Global Affairs.
The School includes the Departments of Geography, Global Health & Social Medicine, and International Development, the African Leadership Centre, and the Global Institutes (Brazil, India, Lau China, and Menzies Australia).
Its expertise covers a whole range of subjects including climate change, global health, cross-border migration, emerging economies and politics.
The World: We Got This with Esau Williams can be found on various podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple and Acast.
Listen to Episode 1
In this episode, Esau is joined by Professor Frans Berkhout to talk about the pledge by the big banks to triple nuclear energy by 2050. Dr Anastasia Piliavsky digs deeper into Narendra Modi's visit to the US, and PhD candidate Teyah Payne discusses recent flooding in the global north and south.