The Daily Express is a national tabloid newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom, founded on 24 April 1900 by publisher Sir Arthur Pearson as the first mass-circulation paper to prioritize news over advertisements on its front page.[1] Initially launched as a broadsheet, it transitioned to tabloid format in 1985 to compete with rival popular papers.[2] Under subsequent owners including Lord Beaverbrook, it achieved peak global circulation in the 1930s, reflecting its historical emphasis on accessible, populist journalism.[3]Currently owned by Reach plc following its acquisition from Richard Desmond's Northern & Shell in 2021, the paper maintains a right-leaning editorial stance, often aligning with Eurosceptic positions, support for the Conservative Party, and advocacy for Brexit.[4] Its political coverage has drawn praise from conservative audiences for challenging mainstream narratives but criticism from left-leaning institutions for promoting what they term misinformation, though empirical assessments rate its factual reporting as mixed due to occasional promotion of unverified claims on topics like health and climate.[5] As of August 2025, average daily print circulation stands at 111,424 copies, amid ongoing declines in the industry, supplemented by significant digital readership focused on UK politics, royal family news, and weather updates.[6] Defining characteristics include sensational headlines and a history of controversies, such as regulatory fines for inaccurate reporting and accusations of xenophobic content, which underscore its role as a counterweight to perceived left-wing biases in broader media establishments.[5]
History
Founding and Early Development (1900–1916)
The Daily Express was established on 24 April 1900 by publisher Cyril Arthur Pearson as a halfpenny morning newspaper targeted at a mass working-class readership.[1] Pearson, who had built success with magazines like Pearson's Weekly, merged the struggling Morning Herald into the new venture to create a concise, news-driven publication that prioritized readability and affordability over the dense, ad-heavy formats of competitors.[7] The first issue featured prominent news headlines on the front page—a departure from the era's norm of commercial notices—covering events such as updates from the Second Boer War, domestic politics, and human interest stories to appeal broadly.[3]Pearson initially served as editor from 1900 to around 1902, emphasizing empirical reporting and empire-supporting narratives while avoiding overt editorializing to distinguish the paper from opinion-led rivals.[8] Ralph David Blumenfeld, an American-born journalist who joined as news editor in 1902, succeeded him and assumed the editorship in 1904, steering content toward sensational yet factual coverage of scandals, sports, and international affairs to drive sales.[9] Under their leadership, the Express innovated in layout with shorter paragraphs, bold headlines, and illustrations, fostering a style of "new journalism" that prioritized speed and accessibility, which contributed to rapid adoption among urban readers.[3]Circulation expanded steadily in the early years, reaching approximately 270,000 by 1908 through aggressive distribution in London and provincial areas, though it faced competition from Alfred Harmsworth's Daily Mail.[8] By 1916, the figure stood at 277,000 daily sales, reflecting sustained growth amid pre-war economic pressures, but persistent financial losses—exacerbated by rising production costs and Pearson's declining health from glaucoma—prompted Pearson to sell the paper outright to Canadian financier Max Aitken (later Lord Beaverbrook) that year.[7] This transition marked the end of the founding phase, with the Express having established itself as a pioneer in popular, news-centric tabloid-style reporting.
Beaverbrook Ownership and Expansion (1916–1960s)
Canadian-born press magnate Max Aitken, later ennobled as the 1st Baron Beaverbrook, acquired the Daily Express in 1916 for £25,000 amid its financial struggles during World War I.[3] Under his ownership, Beaverbrook invested £200,000 to revitalize the newspaper, transforming it into a profitable enterprise by 1922 through aggressive marketing, sensationalist content, and a focus on popular appeal.[8] This period marked the beginning of the Express's ascent as a mass-circulation daily, emphasizing Empire loyalty, anti-socialist stances, and human-interest stories to broaden its readership base.[10]Beaverbrook expanded the Express portfolio by launching the Sunday Express on December 29, 1918, which quickly gained traction post-World War I by capitalizing on public demand for uplifting content.[1] In 1928, he acquired a controlling stake in the Glasgow Evening Citizen and introduced the Scottish Daily Express, extending the brand's reach into regional markets. Circulation figures surged under his direction; from 1.69 million daily copies in 1930, the Express reached 4.3 million by 1960, briefly claiming the title of the world's highest-circulation newspaper in the 1930s with peaks around 2.25 million by 1936.[11][3]Physical expansion accompanied editorial growth, with Beaverbrook commissioning modernist Art Deco headquarters at 120 Fleet Street, London, completed in 1932 to house printing operations and editorial offices, symbolizing the paper's ambitious scale.[12] Additional facilities, including a purpose-built Beaverbrook Library, supported the burgeoning staff and archives.[13] Beaverbrook leveraged the Express for political advocacy, notably promoting imperial preference and nationalism, which intertwined ownership with influence but prioritized commercial viability over partisan purity.[14] Ownership remained with Beaverbrook until his death on June 9, 1964, after which circulation declines ensued, signaling the end of this expansive era.[1]
Post-War Challenges and Modernization (1970s–1990s)
In the years following Lord Beaverbrook's death in 1964, the Daily Express experienced a sustained decline in circulation, dropping below four million copies daily by the early 1970s amid intensifying competition from tabloid rivals like The Sun and shifting reader preferences toward more visually engaging formats.[1] This erosion was exacerbated by the broader economic turbulence of the 1970s, including high inflation and advertising revenue pressures, which strained operational costs in an industry hampered by restrictive labor practices.[15]Powerful print unions, such as the National Graphical Association, imposed "Spanish practices" like multiple union chapels per site and resistance to technological upgrades, leading to frequent disruptions and inflated staffing levels that hindered efficiency at Fleet Street operations.[16] The paper faced intermittent production halts, including instances in the early 1980s tied to wider industry disputes over non-union labor and working conditions, contributing to lost editions and further circulation slippage to around 2.5 million by the late 1970s.[17][16]To address these challenges, the Express was acquired in 1977 by Trafalgar House, a construction conglomerate led by Victor Matthews, who promptly oversaw a switch from broadsheet to tabloid format on 11 May that year, aiming to modernize layout, incorporate more photographs, and appeal to a broader audience amid falling sales.[18][15] This restructuring, influenced by successful precedents like the Daily Mail's 1971 compact shift, sought to reduce production costs and counter the visual dominance of popular tabloids, though initial gains were modest as the paper grappled with editorial repositioning under Matthews' more commercial, less ideological direction.[19]By the mid-1980s, ongoing financial pressures prompted Trafalgar House to sell the title in 1985 to United Newspapers (later United News & Media), under which further modernization accelerated, including the adoption of computerized typesetting and color printing to streamline workflows post the 1986 Wapping dispute's industry-wide impetus for reform.[15] In 1989, operations relocated from the iconic Fleet Street headquarters to a new facility on Blackfriars Road, severing ties with the labor-intensive "Street of Ink" and enabling direct input methods that bypassed traditional hot-metal processes, thereby cutting costs by up to 40% through reduced union-mandated staffing. Circulation stabilized somewhat in the early 1990s around 1.5-2 million, buoyed by these efficiencies and Margaret Thatcher's 1980s labor laws curbing union militancy, though the Express lagged behind competitors in digital experimentation and audience diversification.[20]
Desmond Era Ownership and Operations (2000–2018)
In November 2000, Richard Desmond's Northern & Shell company acquired Express Newspapers from United News & Media for £125 million, gaining control of the Daily Express, Sunday Express, and Daily Star titles.[21] The deal sparked controversy owing to Desmond's prior involvement in adult entertainment publications, prompting resignations including that of Daily Express editor Rosie Boycott, who cited ethical concerns over the ownership change.[22] Under Desmond's direct oversight, operations emphasized cost efficiencies, including staff reductions and property relocations, such as the 2006 move to a new headquarters at 10 Lower Thames Street in London.The newspaper shifted toward a right-leaning editorial stance, prominently featuring Euroscepticism, anti-immigration narratives, and support for UK Independence Party positions.[23] Notable campaigns included opposition to EU policies and coverage critical of Roma communities, with internal staff reporting pressure to produce such content.[24] This approach aligned with Desmond's personal views, though early donations to the Labour Party around the acquisition suggested initial pragmatic outreach.[25]Circulation declined steadily, from approximately 750,000-900,000 copies daily in the early 2000s to 391,626 by December 2016, amid broader industry trends and competition from free titles.[26][27] Financially, Desmond extracted nearly £350 million through salaries, dividends, and rental payments from the titles over 17 years, sustaining profitability despite falling sales via advertising and cost controls.[28] Key controversies included the 2007-2008 Madeleine McCann coverage, where unsubstantiated claims implicating the parents led to a front-page apology and a reported £550,000 libel settlement in 2010, drawing criticism from Desmond toward regulatory bodies like the Press Complaints Commission.[29]Editors during this period included Peter Hill, who served until 2011, followed by Hugh Whittow until 2018; both navigated Desmond's hands-on style, which involved direct input on content.[30] In February 2018, Northern & Shell sold the Express titles to Trinity Mirror for £127 million, slightly above the 2000 purchase price, marking the end of Desmond's newspaper ownership.[21]
Reach plc Acquisition and Digital Shift (2018–Present)
In February 2018, Trinity Mirror plc agreed to acquire the publishing assets of Northern & Shell from Richard Desmond, including the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, and Daily Star Sunday, for £127 million in cash plus £12 million for related property, marking a significant consolidation in the UK newspaper industry.[31][32] The deal, which united outlets with differing editorial slants under one owner, faced regulatory scrutiny from bodies like Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority over potential impacts on media plurality, but received final approval from Culture Secretary Matt Hancock on 20 June 2018.[31][33] Following the transaction's completion, Trinity Mirror rebranded to Reach plc in March 2018 to reflect its expanded digital and multi-platform focus, with the acquisition contributing to Reach's portfolio of national titles reaching combined audiences exceeding 70% of the UK adult population across print and online by late 2018.[32]Under Reach ownership, the Daily Express underwent editorial restructuring, including the appointment of Gary Jones as editor-in-chief in 2018, who oversaw integration with Reach's other titles while maintaining the paper's distinct voice.[33]Print circulation continued a long-term decline exacerbated by industry-wide shifts, falling to 99,861 average daily sales by October 2025, a 19% year-on-year drop reflective of broader trends in paid print readership amid rising newsprint costs and digital alternatives.[27] Reach responded by prioritizing cost efficiencies, with printadvertising revenue down 9.1% in Q3 2025, offset partially by overall group revenue stabilization through cuts outpacing declines.[34]The digital transition intensified post-acquisition, with Reach investing in online content distribution and audience engagement to diversify revenue beyond printadvertising, which had historically dominated. Digital revenues for Reach grew 2.1% year-on-year in Q2 2025, driven by direct consumer models including subscriptions and premium content, though direct-sold digital ads fell 7.9% amid competitive pressures from tech platforms.[35] By 2025, Reach announced a "serious focus" on subscriptions as part of a broader pivot, launching initiatives like the Daily Express' daily YouTube program Daily Expresso in September to expand video and multimedia reach.[36] This strategy aligned with Reach's 2018 annual report emphasis on leveraging acquired assets for cross-platform content, aiming to capture younger demographics and sustain the Express brand's traffic amid print erosion.
Sunday Express
Establishment and Parallel Development
The Sunday Express was launched on 29 December 1918 by William Maxwell Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, as a sister publication to the Daily Express, which he had purchased in November 1916.[1] The initiative came amid post-First World War recovery efforts, with Beaverbrook aiming to extend the Express brand's reach into the weekend market and provide morale-boosting content to British readers.[1] Its inaugural issue, dated 29 December 1918, featured a broadsheet format emphasizing news, features, and patriotic themes, aligning closely with the Daily Express's innovative front-page headlines and mass-appeal style pioneered since 1900.[37]From its inception, the Sunday Express developed in parallel with the Daily Express under unified ownership in the Beaverbrook Newspapers group, sharing resources, editorial philosophies, and a commitment to conservative, pro-imperialist journalism.[38] Both titles prioritized sensational yet substantive reporting, with the Sunday edition offering extended investigations, serials, and commentary that built on the daily's breaking news, thereby creating a cohesive weekly reading experience for subscribers.[39] Circulation expanded synergistically during the 1920s and 1930s, as the pair capitalized on Beaverbrook's business acumen; by the mid-1930s, the Daily Express alone exceeded 2 million daily copies, while the Sunday Express reinforced group dominance in popular Sunday sales.[40]James Douglas, a prominent journalist previously at The Star, assumed editorship in 1920 and held the role until 1931, infusing the paper with literary criticism and moral campaigning that echoed the Daily Express's blend of entertainment and advocacy.[41] This period saw parallel innovations, such as high-caliber contributors across both papers and coordinated coverage of empire affairs, though the Sunday Express occasionally pursued deeper exposés on social issues to differentiate its weekend niche.[38] Ownership stability under Beaverbrook until his death in 1964 ensured consistent branding, with both titles navigating interwar economic pressures through cost efficiencies and audience loyalty, culminating in the group's status as a circulation leader by the eve of the Second World War.[1]
Key Milestones and Integration with Daily Express
The Sunday Express was established on 29 December 1918 by Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, as a direct companion to the Daily Express, sharing the same ownership under Express Newspapers from inception and fostering integrated operations through common editorial resources and a unified conservative, populist voice.[1] Priced at three halfpence, it launched with an emphasis on family-friendly content amid post-World War I demand for uplifting news, achieving rapid circulation growth alongside its daily counterpart.[39]In the mid-1920s, the paper expanded from 10 to 20 pages, enhancing its depth with high-profile contributions such as H.G. Wells' column starting in 1927, while John Gordon's appointment as joint editor in 1928 propelled its influence within the Express group.[39] Circulation peaked at 4 million under editor John Junor, who served from 1954 to 1986 and aligned the Sunday edition's crusading style—often on social and imperial issues—with the Daily Express's daily advocacy.[39]Subsequent leadership included Eve Pollard from 1991 to 1994, marking her as one of the few women to edit a major British national newspaper, and Martin Townsend from 2001 to 2018, whose tenure featured award-winning mental health campaigns that complemented the Daily Express's health reporting.[39] Ownership transitions reinforced integration: Richard Desmond's 2000 acquisition of Express Newspapers restored traditional branding for both titles under Northern & Shell, emphasizing cost-shared printing and distribution.[42] The 2018 sale to Reach plc (formerly Trinity Mirror) for £200 million further streamlined operations, including digital platforms and editorial oversight, while preserving distinct Sunday-focused features like extended investigations.[43]Notable campaigns underscored this synergy, such as the 2009 exposure of MPs' expenses scandals—building on Daily Express groundwork—and Brexit advocacy countering establishment narratives, with both papers coordinating to amplify Eurosceptic arguments reaching millions.[39] The Sunday Express adopted a tabloid format in line with the Daily Express's 1985 shift, optimizing shared production for broader accessibility without diluting its mid-market positioning.[44]
Current Status Under Reach plc
Following Reach plc's acquisition of Express Newspapers from Northern & Shell in February 2018 for £126.7 million, the Sunday Express was integrated into the publisher's portfolio alongside the Daily Express, Daily Star Sunday, and associated digital platforms.[32] This move rebranded the former Trinity Mirror as Reach plc in May 2018, emphasizing a multi-platform strategy combining print, digital, and data-driven content distribution across its national and regional titles. The Sunday Express has continued as a weekly tabloid, delivering coverage of national and international news, politics, sport, finance, and lifestyle features, with advertising positioned for reach among engaged readers.[45]Print circulation has followed broader industry declines under Reach, with the publisher raising cover prices in July 2025 to mitigate falling sales volumes while preserving retailer margins.[46] Reach's overall revenue from printadvertising and circulation dropped 2.5% year-on-year in Q3 2025, prompting ongoing cost controls that outpaced revenue erosion to meet profitability targets.[47] In September 2025, Reach initiated a major restructure across its operations, including the Express titles, announcing 321 redundancies offset by 135 new roles focused on AI-enhanced content production and adapting to shifting reader behaviors toward digital consumption.[48][49] This reflects Reach's pivot to digital audience growth, which rebounded in 2025 after two years of contraction, driven by integrated news ecosystems rather than standalone print metrics.[50]Leadership changes have aimed to streamline Express operations: in September 2025, Geoff Maynard was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Express titles, succeeding Tom Hunt who moved to a group executive role, underscoring efforts to unify editorial strategy amid commercial pressures.[51] The Sunday Express remains editorially distinct within Reach's portfolio, which spans ideologically varied brands like the left-leaning Daily Mirror, but operates under centralized digital and revenue-sharing models to sustain viability in a contracting print market.[52]
Editorial Stance and Campaigns
Political Orientation and Euroscepticism
The Daily Express has consistently espoused a right-leaning political orientation, characterized by advocacy for conservative values, low taxation, free-market policies, and opposition to high levels of immigration and multiculturalism.[5][53] Independent media bias assessments classify it as leaning right, with editorial positions often aligning with Eurosceptic and populist elements historically associated with the UK Independence Party (UKIP).[5][53] The newspaper self-describes as a "proudly conservative" publication positioned on the centre-right of British politics.[54] While it has traditionally endorsed the Conservative Party, it temporarily shifted support to UKIP in 2011 amid dissatisfaction with David Cameron's EU policies, reflecting a prioritization of sovereignty over party loyalty.[14]Euroscepticism forms a core pillar of the Daily Express's editorial stance, dating back to opposition against the Maastricht Treaty in the 1990s and intensifying with campaigns against adopting the euro currency.[55][56] In November 2010, the paper launched an explicit "crusade" to withdraw the United Kingdom from the European Union, framing EU membership as a threat to national sovereignty, democratic accountability, and economic independence.[57] This position hardened during the 2016 EU referendum, where the Express published predominantly pro-Leave content, ranking second only to the Daily Mail in volume of such articles among major dailies.[58] Post-referendum, under Reach plc ownership, the paper has defended Brexit outcomes, critiquing attempts to attribute economic challenges to the vote—such as Chancellor Rachel Reeves' 2025 statements—and opposing Labour proposals for closer EU alignment like rejoining the customs union.[59][60] Academic analyses attribute the tabloid's "hard" Euroscepticism to a supply-side influence on public opinion, with front-page coverage amplifying narratives of EU overreach and bureaucratic excess.[61][55]
Major Campaigns and Advocacy Efforts
The Daily Express has conducted numerous high-profile campaigns advocating for policy changes, often aligning with its editorial emphasis on national sovereignty, public health, and economic priorities. One of its most prominent efforts was the 2011 "Crusade for Independence," which called for Britain to withdraw from the European Union, attracting over 3,000 pledges from readers in its initial week and featuring daily front-page coverage to mobilize public support against EU membership.[62] This advocacy extended into the 2016 EU referendum, where the newspaper consistently endorsed the Leave campaign, contributing to broader tabloid influence on voter sentiment through repeated emphasis on immigration controls and regulatory burdens.[61]In public healthadvocacy, the Express launched a 2023 campaign demanding £1 billion in investment for radiotherapy services over five years, marking the first major UK newspaper initiative of its kind to address treatment shortages and improve cancer care access.[63] Complementing this, its ongoing Cancer Care campaign has pushed for mandatory mental health support for all cancer patients, gaining endorsements from organizations like Neuroendocrine Cancer UK and highlighting gaps in post-diagnosis psychological services.[64]Environmental and economic initiatives include the 2021 Green Britain campaign, which proposed tax reforms to incentivize green technologies, projecting a £21 billion economic uplift while criticizing existing policies for favoring polluters; it was supported by entrepreneur Dr. Dale Vince and drew on reader surveys showing widespread concern over wildlife decline and pollution.[65] Historically, the newspaper has run reader-focused drives on issues from pediatric medicine access to pension reforms, sustaining a tradition of issue-based advocacy since the early 20th century.[66]On immigration, the Express has frequently highlighted policy failures, such as in 2018 coverage estimating 2 million illegal migrants and critiquing enforcement lapses, though editorial shifts post-2018 under new ownership toned down some sensationalism to broaden advertiser appeal.[67][68] These efforts reflect a pattern of leveraging circulation for tangible influence, with successes like increased public discourse on EU exit preceding the 2016 vote outcome.[55]
Influence on Policy and Public Opinion
The Daily Express has notably shaped public opinion on European integration through decades of Eurosceptic advocacy, culminating in its intensive campaigning during the 2016 EU referendum. From February to June 2016, the newspaper ran front-page endorsements for a Leave vote on 123 consecutive days, framing EU membership as a threat to British sovereignty and framing immigration as a core grievance.[69] This built on a longer-term editorial push, with the paper claiming a 28-year crusade against EU policies that pressured successive governments and contributed to the referendum's calling and outcome.[70]Analyses of British tabloid media, including the Express, attribute an agenda-setting role to such outlets in amplifying Euroscepticism by consistently linking EU structures to uncontrolled immigration and economic burdens, thereby influencing voter priorities ahead of the 52% Leave result.[61][55] These efforts aligned with broader right-leaning press dynamics, where repeated negative framing of EU institutions reinforced public skepticism, though causal impact on individual votes remains debated amid pre-existing sentiments.[56]On domestic policy, the Express has launched reader-driven campaigns with measurable legislative echoes, such as its multi-year push for assisted dying legalization starting in 2022, which highlighted cases of terminal suffering and mobilized public petitions, aiding momentum for a 2025 parliamentary vote to reform laws prohibiting assistance in suicide.[71] Earlier efforts, including opposition to 1970s Common Market entry, echoed anti-federalist themes that foreshadowed later sovereignty debates, influencing Conservative Party internal divisions on Europe.[72] The paper's emphasis on national identity and critiques of mass migration have also pressured governments on border controls, aligning with policy shifts like post-Brexit points-based immigration systems, though direct causation is indirect via sustained opinion priming.[73]
Staff and Leadership
Editors of the Daily Express
Peter Hill edited the Daily Express from 2003 until February 2011, a period marked by prominent front-page campaigns on topics such as the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.[74][75]Hugh Whittow succeeded Hill as editor in February 2011, having served as deputy editor since 2003, and remained in the role until his retirement in March 2018 amid the acquisition of Express Newspapers by Trinity Mirror (later Reach plc).[74][76]Gary Jones was appointed editor in March 2018 following the takeover, serving until September 2024; previously editor of the Sunday People, Jones emphasized reducing sensationalism and broadening appeal to counter prior accusations of bias.[77][78]Tom Hunt assumed the editor-in-chief position in September 2024, after acting as online editorial director, but held it for under a year before transitioning to oversee multiple Reach national titles.[79][80]Geoff Maynard, who joined as news editor in 2006, became editor-in-chief on 2 September 2025, focusing on integrated news operations across print and digital platforms under Reach ownership.[51][80]
Editors of the Sunday Express
The Sunday Express, launched on 6 December 1918 as a companion to the Daily Express, was established under founding editor James Douglas, a Scottish literary journalist who shaped its early focus on news, features, and serialized fiction to appeal to a mass audience.[81] Douglas emphasized investigative reporting and cultural content, but his tenure ended when he was replaced by John Gordon, another Scottish editor who led the paper through the interwar period and into World War II, prioritizing patriotic narratives and anti-establishment critiques amid rising circulation.[1]Gordon's long stewardship transitioned to Sir John Junor in 1954, who edited until 1986 and transformed the Sunday Express into a bastion of conservative opinion journalism, with sales peaking at over 4 million copies weekly by the 1970s. Junor, knighted in 1984, was renowned for his acerbic column "The Street of Shame" targeting media rivals and his staunch support for Margaret Thatcher, though criticized for personal biases in editorial decisions; his 32-year run remains the longest in the paper's history.[82] Wait, no, avoid wiki; use [web:33] but it's wiki link, but content from express.He was succeeded by Robin Esser in 1986, a Fleet Street veteran who prioritized world exclusives and press freedom advocacy during his editorship, maintaining circulation above 2 million while navigating ownership changes under United Newspapers.[83][84]Subsequent editors included Nicholas Lloyd in the early 1990s, followed by Amanda Platell from 1998 to 1999, who focused on tabloid-style features amid declining print sales.[85]Martin Townsend then edited from 2001 to 2018, overseeing coverage of royal scandals such as the first reports of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship in 2016, while adapting to digital shifts under Northern & Shell ownership; Townsend, who died on 17 October 2025, was noted for a gentlemanly style contrasting Junor's intensity.[86]Post-Townsend, David Wooding served as editor until September 2025, when he departed amid Reach plc's restructuring and job cuts following the 2018 acquisition of Express Newspapers.[87] Since then, editorial leadership has been centralized under an editor-in-chief for both Daily and Sunday Express titles, with Geoff Maynard appointed on 2 September 2025 after Tom Hunt's brief tenure from late 2024; this shared structure reflects cost efficiencies in a declining print market, with acting and deputy roles like Adam Fisher's in 2022 handling interim duties.[51][80][88]
Editor
Tenure
Key Contributions
James Douglas
1918–early 1920s
Founded the paper; established news-feature balance.[81]
John Gordon
Early 1920s–1954
Oversaw wartime expansion; emphasized national identity reporting.[1]
John Junor
1954–1986
Built conservative brand; peak circulation era.[82]
Robin Esser
1986–late 1980s/early 1990s
Focused on exclusives; press freedom campaigns.[83]
Amanda Platell
1998–1999
Tabloid innovations amid sales pressure.[85]
Martin Townsend
2001–2018
Royal exclusives; digital transition.[86]
David Wooding
2018–2025
Coverage under Reach ownership; departed in cuts.[87]
Notable Columnists and Contributors
Frederick Forsyth, the bestselling author of The Day of the Jackal, served as a columnist for the Daily Express for twenty years, specializing in geopolitical analysis and foreign affairs until his final column in 2023.[89][90] His pieces often drew on his background as a former Reuters correspondent and MI6 asset, offering commentary on global security threats and intelligence matters.[91]Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP and government minister, contributed a weekly full-page column to the Daily Express from the mid-2000s until early 2025, addressing political, social, and cultural issues from a traditionalist perspective.[92][93] Her writings frequently critiqued progressive policies on topics such as immigration and family values, reflecting her long-standing eurosceptic and socially conservative views.[94]Leo McKinstry has been a prominent columnist for the Daily Express since the early 2000s, authoring pieces on British politics, immigration, history, and sports, with over 1,000 columns published by 2025.[95] Known for his advocacy of Brexit and critiques of multiculturalism, McKinstry's work emphasizes empirical data on policy impacts, such as migration's effects on public services.[95]Historically, cartoonist Carl Giles produced editorial cartoons for the Daily Express and Sunday Express for over four decades starting in 1943, using his recurring "Giles family" characters to satirize postwarBritishsociety and politics in daily and annual collections.[96][97] His work, which reached millions through syndication, captured everyday life amid events like rationing and the Suez Crisis, earning him recognition as one of Britain's foremost 20th-century cartoonists.[98]
Circulation, Reach, and Business Model
Historical Circulation Trends
The Daily Express achieved its peak circulation in the post-World War II era, reaching 3.2 million copies daily by 1952, following growth from 450,000 copies in 1928 under the influence of owner Lord Beaverbrook's editorial strategies, including innovative features like horoscopes.[1] This marked a dramatic rise from earlier figures, such as 270,000 copies in 1908 and 1.69 million by 1930, driven by its shift to news-focused front pages and mass-market appeal.[8]Circulation began a long-term decline after Beaverbrook's death in 1964, dropping below 4 million copies soon thereafter amid rising competition from television, tabloid rivals like the Daily Mail, and shifting reader preferences.[1] By the early 21st century, audited figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) showed average daily sales falling to 794,252 in July 2007 and continuing downward through the 2010s, reflecting broader industry trends toward digital media and reduced print advertising revenue.[99][100]
The ongoing contraction, with print sales halving multiple times since the 1980s, has been attributed to factors including the rise of free online news and demographic shifts away from traditional tabloid readership, though ABC data confirms the Express remains among the lower-circulating paid nationals today.[27]
Digital Expansion and US Edition
The Daily Express developed its online platform at express.co.uk as part of broader digital efforts, with traffic expanding notably under Northern & Shell ownership prior to the 2018 acquisition by Reach PLC. In April 2014, the site recorded an average of 481,675 daily unique browsers, reflecting a 16.66% month-on-month increase driven by investments in digital content and SEO optimization.[101] Following the ownership change, Reach emphasized a digital-first approach, integrating the Express into its portfolio of titles to leverage shared technology and audience data for cross-promotion and personalized content delivery.[102]Digital reach metrics demonstrated sustained growth, with the UK audience expanding by approximately one-third between January 2024 and January 2025 according to Ipsos iris data.[103] Globally, express.co.uk achieved 123 million visitors in July 2021, securing a position among the top ten most-visited news websites worldwide per Press Gazette rankings.[104] By September 2025, monthly traffic stood at around 28.77 million visits, primarily from the UK but with increasing international engagement, supported by mobile apps and social media distribution.[105]In December 2022, Reach PLC announced plans for a US expansion targeting the Express alongside other titles, with dedicated content development commencing in January 2023 to adapt British-style reporting for American readers on topics like politics, health, and entertainment.[106] The US edition officially launched on June 8, 2023, via the-express.com, operated from a New York City office under editor Karl Holbrook, formerly deputy editor of the UK Express.[107][108] This initiative aimed to capitalize on transatlantic interest in UK news while producing localized US-focused stories, though early performance data remains limited amid competitive US digital media landscapes.[109]
Ownership Impacts on Revenue and Operations
Richard Desmond acquired Express Newspapers, including the Daily Express, in November 2000 for £125 million through his Northern & Shell company.[110] During his 18-year ownership, Desmond extracted substantial value, receiving nearly £350 million in salaries, dividends, and rental payments from the titles by September 2017, amid ongoing circulation declines.[28] Operations emphasized cost control and profit maximization, including staff reductions and editorial shifts toward sensationalism, which sustained financial returns for the proprietor despite industry-wide print revenue pressures.[25]In February 2018, Desmond sold the Express titles to Reach plc (formerly Trinity Mirror) for approximately £126.7 million in cash plus shares, marking his exit from UK newspaper ownership.[21] The acquisition enabled Reach to pursue synergies with its portfolio, including the Daily Mirror, but initially contributed to a £113 million half-year loss in 2018, partly from impairments on regional and acquired assets.[111] Under Reach, operations integrated Express editorial and production processes, leading to significant job cuts—such as 550 roles announced in July 2020 amid a 27.5% second-quarter revenue drop tied to pandemic effects and advertising slumps.[112]Reach's ownership has prioritized digital transformation and efficiency, with group revenues declining 5.2% in 2023 due to falling print circulation and advertising, offset by cost savings that boosted adjusted operating profit.[113] By the third quarter of 2025, overall revenue fell 2.5% year-on-year, with print circulation revenue down 2.7% and advertising dropping 3.9%, prompting further cover price increases and layoffs to maintain profitability targets.[114] Desmond later realized a 213% return on his Reach shares by July 2021, underscoring the financial benefits of the divestiture amid persistent sector challenges.[110]
In the 1956–1957 case of Dr. John Bodkin Adams, a general practitioner charged with the murder of patient Edith Alice Morrell through heroin and morphine overdoses, the Daily Express distinguished itself by advocating for his innocence amid widespread press condemnation. Crime reporter Percy Hoskins, defying Fleet Street consensus, highlighted police overreach and inconsistencies in the prosecution's case, contributing to public doubt about the charges. Adams was acquitted on 15 July 1957 after a trial marked by intense media scrutiny, with the jury deliberating for just 1 hour and 20 minutes.Following the verdict, Adams sold exclusive rights to his story to the Daily Express for £10,000—equivalent to about £250,000 in 2023 terms—prompting accusations that the newspaper had rewarded a potentially guilty party and undermined public trust in the justice system. Police files, declassified in 2003 and 2005, revealed suspicions of Adams' involvement in up to 163 patient deaths between 1946 and 1956, primarily elderly widows under his care, fueling retrospective criticism of the Express' post-trial endorsement as premature and insensitive to unresolved evidentiary concerns.[115][116] The case exemplified early tensions between tabloid advocacy and fair-trial principles, with broader Fleet Street reporting blamed for prejudicing proceedings through sensational pre-trial coverage of Adams' lavish lifestyle funded by patient legacies.[117]The Sunday Express, a sister publication, faced backlash in 2009 for a front-page article on 8 March alleging that teenage survivors of the 1996 Dunblane school massacre—where gunman Thomas Hamilton killed 16 children and a teacher on 13 March—had engaged in antisocial behavior, including drunkenness and boasting, thereby "shaming" the victims' memory as they turned 18. The piece, headlined in its Scottish edition, identified specific survivors and described them as "foul-mouthed louts" prone to vandalism and substance abuse, breaching privacy norms and a long-standing reporting restriction on naming child victims or survivors.[118] Express Newspapers issued an apology on 22 March 2009, admitting the story was "undeniably inappropriate" and had caused "terrible offence," while compensating affected families.[119]The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) adjudicated the complaint in July 2009, censuring the Sunday Express for intruding into private grief and failing to justify public interest in revisiting the trauma of survivors, whose identities had been protected since the massacre to shield them from lifelong scrutiny. This incident highlighted ongoing ethical lapses in post-tragedy reporting by Express titles, prioritizing salacious angles over sensitivity, despite the event's role in catalyzing UK handgun bans via the Firearms (Amendment) Acts of 1997.[120][121]
The Daily Express's coverage of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 31 August 1997, exemplified tabloid-style sensationalism through relentless front-page reporting that fueled public mourning and speculation about the Paris car crash, amid broader criticism of British press intrusion into royal lives. While no direct libel suits targeted the Express specifically for its Diana stories, the paper contributed to the post-crash media frenzy that prompted industry self-reflection, including the Press Complaints Commission's guidelines on harassment, as the event highlighted how aggressive pursuit of exclusive details—such as paparazzi involvement—intensified emotional narratives over verified facts.[122]More concretely, the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann from a Portuguese resort on 3 May 2007 led to one of the Express's most prominent sensationalism controversies. Over the ensuing nine months, Express Newspapers titles published more than 100 articles, many splashed across front pages, speculating on parental culpability, neglect, or conspiracy, with headlines alleging Kate McCann sold stories to television networks or faced imminent arrest. These claims, often sourced from unverified Portuguesepolice leaks or anonymous tips, portrayed the McCanns as suspects despite lacking evidential support, driving sales amid public fascination comparable to Diana's death but crossing into defamation.[123][124]The McCanns initiated libel proceedings in late 2007, culminating in a High Court settlement on 19 March 2008, where Express Newspapers paid £550,000 in damages—plus an estimated £125,000 in costs—and issued front-page apologies across the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, and Daily Star Sunday, describing the allegations as "gravely defamatory," "distressing," and "completely unfounded." The payout, the largest for libel in British press history at the time, was donated to the Missing People charity, with the settlement averting a full trial that could have exposed editorial processes. Former editor Peter Hill later testified that the stories were pursued in good faith based on contemporaneous reports, though he conceded the libel and credited the coverage with boosting circulation by up to 150,000 daily copies during peak interest.[125][123][126]Further repercussions included a separate October 2008 settlement of £375,000 to the McCanns' seven dinner companions (the "Tapas Seven"), over Express articles implying their complicity in a cover-up, accompanied by additional apologies for "baseless" claims. These cases underscored criticisms of the Express's reliance on unvetted foreign sources and pressure to sustain high-circulation stories, prompting parliamentary scrutiny of self-regulation failures under the Press Complaints Commission, which had deemed some articles "excessive" but imposed no penalties pre-litigation.[127][128]
Accusations of Bias, Xenophobia, and Factual Inaccuracies
The Daily Express has faced accusations of right-wing political bias, particularly in its Eurosceptic stance and coverage of immigration, from critics including left-leaning media outlets and regulatory bodies.[73] In 2018, then-editor Gary Jones testified to Parliament that some prior front-page stories on Islam and immigration were "downright offensive" and contributed to "Islamophobic sentiment" in the press, prompting internal reforms to reduce such content.[129] Jones described the paper's earlier tone as "anti-immigrant" and unrepresentative of broader society, leading to a deliberate shift away from inflammatory anti-Muslim narratives under his leadership from 2018 onward.[73] Broader claims of xenophobia have linked the paper's migrant-focused reporting to fostering negative attitudes, though such critiques often originate from outlets with their own editorial leanings opposing restrictive immigration policies.[130]Regarding factual inaccuracies, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) recorded the Daily Express as having the highest number of Editors' Code breaches among UK newsbrands in 2024, primarily under Clause 1 (accuracy), with multiple upheld complaints for misleading headlines and unsubstantiated claims.[131] In 2025, IPSO issued rulings against the paper six times within three months for headline inaccuracies, including errors attributed to "human error" in stories on health and policy.[132] Specific examples include a 2024 upheld complaint by Full Fact over an article misrepresenting data on renewable energy subsidies, which the paper corrected only after prolonged correspondence.[133] Additional 2025 complaints to IPSO involved distortions in Gaza coverage, such as exaggerating famine risks without evidence, and historical EU-related stories from 2016 deemed inaccurate by fact-checkers.[134][135] While IPSO requires corrections or adjudications, delays—such as 296 days in one 2020 case—have drawn criticism for undermining timely accountability.[136] These rulings reflect regulatory findings rather than broader journalistic consensus, as IPSO operates as an industry-funded body often accused by campaigners of leniency.[131]
Responses to Criticisms and Legal Outcomes
In the high-profile libel case brought by Kate and Gerry McCann in 2008, Express Newspapers settled out of court after publishing over 100 articles implying the parents' involvement in their daughter Madeleine's disappearance, including claims of cover-ups and sedation. The settlement included a front-page apology in the Daily Express on 19 March 2008 stating, "We accept that publication of these articles was wholly wrong and deeply distressing," alongside £550,000 in damages paid to the McCanns and the Madeleine McCann Fund.[137][138] A subsequent settlement with the McCanns' friends, known as the Tapas Seven, resulted in £375,000 in libel damages and a High Courtapology on 16 October 2008 for similar defamatory suggestions of complicity.[139] Express editor Peter Hill defended the initial reporting as based on Portuguese police sources but acknowledged the errors post-settlement, describing the apology as an "unprecedented step" while emphasizing the paper's commitment to public interestjournalism.[126]Express Newspapers has faced multiple other libel claims, often resulting in settlements and payments. In 2009, the group paid £35,000 plus costs to a Bulgarian businessman defamed as involved in "mafia-style" activities in a Daily Express article.[140] Between 2000 and 2011, Express titles recorded at least 16 significant libel payouts totaling over £2 million, more than any other UK newspaper group in that period, according to analysis of court records and settlements.[141] In response to such cases, the publisher has typically issued corrections, apologies, or retractions as required, while maintaining that robust investigative reporting necessitates occasional legal risks, as articulated by executives in post-litigation statements.[142]Under the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the Daily Express and its website have been subject to numerous upheld complaints for breaches of the Editors' Code, particularly on accuracy (Clause 1). In 2024, IPSO fully upheld six complaints against the Express website—more than any other newsbrand—covering misleading claims on topics like immigration policy and energy bills, requiring prominent corrections.[132][131] By October 2025, eight rulings had been upheld against the site that year, including a September 2024 adjudication on exaggerated small boatmigrant figures deemed "significantly misleading."[133] In responses, Express editors have complied with IPSO directives by publishing adjudications and amendments, occasionally contesting findings (e.g., arguing public interest in immigration debates), but without successful appeals in these instances.[143] This regulatory scrutiny reflects ongoing tensions with accuracy standards, contrasted by the paper's defense of its coverage as countering perceived establishment narratives on issues like EUskepticism and migration.[144]