He is the son of Stephen and Fiona Easton. At the age of ten, his parents moved from Scotland to Winchester and he lost his Scottish accent. He attended Peter Symonds Grammar School in Winchester.

He worked at Radio Victory from 1980-1, at Radio Aire from 1981-2 and at LBC from 1982-6.

He worked at the BBC from 1986-96. From 1996-8 he was the Political Editor of Channel 5. From 1998-2004 he was the Home Affairs Editor of Channel 4.

Since 2004 he has been the Home Editor of BBC News.

He married Antonia Higgs in May 1987 in Camden. They have one son (born October 1999) and three daughters (born May 1990, September 1992 and January 1998). He likes to watch Arsenal.