Rebekah Brooks – Biography, Career and Current Role

Rebekah Brooks is one of the most recognisable and polarising figures in British media. As the chief executive of News UK, she runs Rupert Murdoch’s flagship newspaper operations in Britain, including The Times, The Sun, and the Sunday Times. Her career has been defined by two opposing narratives: an extraordinary rise through the ranks of tabloid journalism and a central role in one of the country’s biggest press scandals.

From becoming the youngest editor of a national newspaper at the age of 32 to being acquitted of all charges in the phone-hacking trial, Brooks’ story is one of power, controversy, and resilience. This article examines where she is now, how she got there, and the questions that still surround her.

What is Rebekah Brooks doing now?

Rebekah Brooks currently serves as the chief executive officer of News UK, a role she resumed in September 2015. As of the latest available reporting, she remains in this position, overseeing the company’s portfolio of national newspapers and digital operations. There is no public indication of any change to her role in 2026.

Key insights into her career and current status

• Rebekah Brooks rose to prominence as editor of The Sun and News of the World.
• She was acquitted of all charges related to the phone hacking scandal in 2014.
• She was reappointed CEO of News UK (formerly News International) in 2015 and still holds the role as of 2025.
• Her husband Charlie Brooks is a former racehorse trainer; she was previously married to actor Ross Kemp.
• Rebekah Brooks is frequently referenced in Prince Harry’s legal battles and ongoing criticism of the British tabloid press.

Since returning to News UK, Brooks has led the company through a period of digital transformation. She is also listed as a director of News Group Newspapers and Times Newspapers, and as a non-executive director of PA Group. The legal and public scrutiny around her past, however, has not fully subsided.

Who is Rebekah Brooks husband Charlie Brooks?

Rebekah Brooks married Charlie Brooks in 2009. Charlie Brooks is a former racehorse trainer, based in Britain. The couple have one daughter, born in 2012. Before this marriage, Rebekah Brooks was married to actor Ross Kemp, best known for his role in the British television series EastEnders. That marriage lasted from 2002 to 2008.

Personal life details

Charlie Brooks was among the first people charged alongside his wife in the Scotland Yard phone-hacking investigation in May 2012. He was also acquitted of all charges at trial in 2014. Aside from the legal proceedings, he has largely stayed out of public view compared to his wife.

What about the jewelry line?

There is some online search interest in a potential jewelry line associated with Rebekah Brooks, but no confirmed, active commercial venture has been publicly documented in the available sources. If a business of that nature exists, it is not widely reported.

What was Rebekah Brooks role in the phone hacking scandal?

The phone-hacking scandal erupted in full force in 2011, revealing that journalists at the News of the World had systematically intercepted voicemail messages of celebrities, politicians, and crime victims. Brooks was the newspaper’s editor during the period when the illegal activity took place.

In May 2012, she and her husband Charlie Brooks were among the first people charged by Scotland Yard. The charges included conspiracy to hack voicemails, conspiracy to pay public officials, and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. At trial in 2014, Rebekah Brooks was acquitted of all charges.

Did Rebekah Brooks go to jail?

No. She was found not guilty on all counts and was not sentenced to any prison time. The acquittal allowed her to return to a senior role at News UK the following year.

How is Rebekah Brooks connected to Prince Harry?

Prince Harry has publicly criticised Rebekah Brooks in his memoirs and in legal filings, linking her to the phone-hacking practices that he and his family say caused them significant distress. The prince has pursued multiple lawsuits against British tabloid publishers, and Brooks’ name frequently appears in the context of those cases. Her role as a high-ranking executive at News UK places her at the centre of ongoing legal and ethical debates about press intrusion.

What was Rebekah Brooks like as a young editor?

Born Rebekah Mary Wade on 27 May 1968 in Warrington, then in Cheshire, England, Brooks attended John of Gaunt School before beginning her journalism career in the late 1980s. She started as a reporter at local newspapers, later joining the News of the World in 1989 after early work at other entry-level journalism jobs.

In 2000, at the age of 32, she was appointed editor of the News of the World, making her the youngest editor of a British national newspaper at that time. Three years later, she made history again by becoming the first female editor of The Sun, one of the country’s most widely read daily tabloids.

Her early career was marked by a reputation for ambition, sharp news instincts, and a willingness to push boundaries. These qualities propelled her rapid ascent, but also made her a central figure in the culture that produced the phone-hacking practices.

For more biographical context on other UK media and political figures, you may find these profiles relevant: Romilly Weeks – Biography, Age, Health Rumors and Career at ITV News and Boris Johnson – Biography, Net Worth, Books and Resignation.

Timeline: Rebekah Brooks career and legal history

1. 1989 — Begins career as a reporter at local newspapers.
2. 1990s — Works at The Sun, rises through the ranks.
3. 2000 — Appointed editor of the News of the World, becoming the youngest editor of a British national newspaper.
4. 2003 — Becomes the first female editor of The Sun.
5. 2009 — Appointed CEO of News International; marries Charlie Brooks.
6. 2011 — Steps down as editor amid the phone-hacking scandal; arrested and charged.
7. 2014 — Acquitted of all charges at trial.
8. 2015 — Reappointed CEO of News UK.
9. 2025 — Remains CEO of News UK; subject of renewed scrutiny in Prince Harry’s legal cases.

What is confirmed and what remains unknown?

What is the broader context of Rebekah Brooks role in British media?

Rebekah Brooks is a polarising figure. Her career spans the rise of tabloid journalism, the phone-hacking scandal that shook News International, and a notable professional resurgence as CEO of News UK. The acquittal allowed her to return to a leadership role, but the ethical and legal questions around her tenure at News of the World and The Sun remain unresolved in the public eye. Her ongoing association with Rupert Murdoch and News Corp underscores the consolidation of power in tabloid media.

According to the Inforrm legal blog, “Brooks was found not guilty on all charges.” A 2025 report from Cosmopolitan UK notes that “she is married to racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks and has a daughter.” Inforrm also observed that “Rebekah Brooks is back in her old job as CEO of Rupert Murdoch’s UK newspaper operations.”

Looking ahead, Brooks is likely to remain CEO of News UK into 2026. She will continue to face questions in the press and in legal proceedings related to Prince Harry’s ongoing cases against tabloid publishers. No major career changes are expected in the short term based on available information.

Sources and key quotes

“Brooks was found not guilty on all charges.”

— Inforrm legal blog, 2014

“She is married to racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks and has a daughter.”

— Cosmopolitan UK, September 2025

“Rebekah Brooks is back in her old job as CEO of Rupert Murdoch’s UK newspaper operations.”

— Inforrm

Key sources consulted for this article include Wikipedia, The Guardian media section, Cosmopolitan UK, Inforrm legal blog, and Getty Images.

Summary

Rebekah Brooks rose from local journalism to become the most powerful woman in British tabloid media, survived a criminal trial that could have ended her career, and returned to lead News UK. Her story remains unfinished, with legal battles and public debate continuing to follow her. For a profile of another journalist in the UK media landscape, see Romilly Weeks – Biography, Age, Health Rumors and Career at ITV News.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rebekah Brooks