{{Short description|British journalist (born 1989)}} {{about|the British journalist|the American swimmer|Catie Ball|the British rower|Katie Ball}} {{EngvarB|date=May 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Katy Balls | honorific_suffix = | image = Katy Balls - 2020 (cropped).jpg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = Balls in 2020 | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pronunciation = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|02|12|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=katyballs|number=1624742776037408776|title=Birthday cake for breakfast thanks to the Andrew Neil show|first=Katy|last=Balls|date=12 February 2023}}</ref> | birth_place = [[Aberdeen]], Scotland | baptised = <!-- will not display if birth_date is entered --> | disappeared_date = <!-- {{Disappeared date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) --> | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (enter DEATH date then BIRTH date (e.g., ...|1908|31|8|1967|28|2}} use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> | death_place = | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | burial_place = <!-- may be used instead of resting_place and resting_place_coordinates (displays "Burial place" as label) --> | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | monuments = | other_names = | siglum = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = [[University of Durham]] | occupation = Journalist | years_active = 2013–present | era = | employer = ''[[The Times]]'' | organization = | agent = <!-- Discouraged in most cases, specifically when promotional, and requiring a reliable source --> | known_for = | notable_works = <!-- produces label "Notable work"; may be overridden by |credits=, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |works=, which produces label "Works"; or by |label_name=, which produces label "Label(s)" --> | style = | net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source --> | height = <!-- "X cm", "X m" or "X ft Y in" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) --> | television = | title = <!-- Formal/awarded/job title. The parameter |office=may be used as an alternative when the label is better rendered as "Office" (e.g. public office or appointments) --> | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movement = | opponents = | boards = | criminal_charges = <!-- Criminality parameters should be supported with citations from reliable sources --> | criminal_penalty = | criminal_status = | spouse = <!-- Use article title or common name --> | partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) --> | children = | parents = <!-- overrides mother and father parameters --> | mother = <!-- may be used (optionally with father parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | father = <!-- may be used (optionally with mother parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | relatives = | family = | callsign = | awards = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | module = | module2 = | module3 = | module4 = | module5 = | module6 = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | footnotes = }} '''Kathryn Balls'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/registers-of-interests/register-of-journalists-interests/registers-published-in-2024/|title=Registers published in 2024|website=www.parliament.uk}}</ref> (born 12 February 1989) is a British journalist. She is Washington editor for ''[[The Times]]''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=redondo |first=alberto |date=21 February 2025 |title=Katy Balls joins The Times and The Sunday Times |url=https://www.news.co.uk/latest-news/katy-balls-joins-the-times-and-the-sunday-times-as-washington-editor/ |access-date=7 June 2025 |website=News UK |language=en}}</ref> having previously been political editor of ''[[The Spectator]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tf67DwAAQBAJ&q=%22Katy+Balls%22&pg=PT329|title=May at 10|first=Anthony|last=Seldon|date=7 November 2019|publisher=Biteback Publishing|isbn=9781785905285|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RVJfDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Katy+Balls%22&pg=PT147|title=Messengers: Who We Listen To, Who We Don't, And Why|first1=Stephen|last1=Martin|first2=Joseph|last2=Marks|date=19 September 2019|publisher=Random House|isbn=9781473560727|via=Google Books}}</ref>
==Early life== Born in [[Aberdeen]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Balls | first=Katy | title=Could an Englishman ever be First Minister of Scotland? | website=The Spectator | date=2017-09-08 | url=https://spectator.com/article/could-an-englishman-ever-be-first-minister-of-scotland-/ | access-date=2026-01-14}}</ref> Balls grew up in [[North Berwick]] and attended [[North Berwick High School]].<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=katyballs|number=1200094019143028736|title=Thanks John, I was born in Aberdeen and lived in Scotland until I was 18|first=Katy|last=Balls|date=28 November 2019|link=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|user=katyballs|number=1154091711439749122|title=Rephrase: Looking forward to returning to my home town North Berwick next month to interview David Mundell for @fringebythesea2.|first=Katy|last=Balls|date=24 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/17686632.dance-music-legends-groove-armada-to-play-fringe-by-the-sea-2019/|title=Dance music legends Groove Armada to play Fringe by the Sea 2019|website=East Lothian Courier|date=6 June 2019 }}</ref> She studied at the [[University of Durham]], where she wrote for the university paper ''[[Palatinate (newspaper)|Palatinate]]'' on travel and music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/palatinate/docs/706|title=Palatinate Edition 706, Friday 13th March 2009|website=Issuu|date=29 March 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/palatinate/docs/715|title=Palatinate Issue 715|website=Issuu|date=8 February 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.palatinate.org.uk/enter-exit-discover-serbia/|title=Enter Exit: Discover Serbia|date=25 November 2009}}</ref> She graduated from Durham with a [[2:1]] degree in Philosophy in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Results List |url=http://www.dur.ac.uk:80/spa/assessment/passlists/?pdf=1708 |publisher=[[Durham University]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626115303/http://www.dur.ac.uk:80/spa/assessment/passlists/?pdf=1708 |archive-date=26 June 2010 |page=1 |date=21 June 2010}}</ref>
==Career==
Balls' media career began at ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' with the Mandrake column.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/telegraph-plan-axe-mandrake-diary-column-and-long-serving-editor-tim-walker/|title=Telegraph plan to axe Mandrake diary column and long-serving editor Tim Walker|first=Dominic|last=Ponsford|date=23 October 2014|website=Press Gazette}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10139677/Manchester-University-spends-over-5000-on-University-Challenge-catering.html|title=Manchester University spends over £5,000 on University Challenge catering|first=Katy|last=Balls|date=25 June 2013|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> She was the diary editor at ''[[The Spectator]]'', becoming their political correspondent in December 2016 and was promoted to deputy political editor in January 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.responsesource.com/bulletin/news/spectator-gains-new-political-correspondent/|website=www.responsesource.com|title=The Spectator gains Political Correspondent|date=19 December 2016|access-date=28 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Nelson | first=Fraser | title=Katy Balls nominated for Political Commentator of the Year | website=The Spectator | date=2018-02-13 | url=https://spectator.com/article/katy-balls-nominated-for-political-commentator-of-the-year/ | access-date=2026-01-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.responsesource.com/bulletin/news/katy-balls-appointed-deputy-political-editor-at-the-spectator/|title=Katy Balls appointed deputy political editor at The Spectator|first=Nate|last=Amos-Sansam|publisher=ResponseSource|accessdate=4 May 2021}}</ref> rising to political editor in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite tweet |first=Fraser|last=Nelson|authorlink=Fraser Nelson|user=FraserNelson|number=1610664829546635265|date=4 January 2023|title=Katy Balls is the new political editor of The Spectator|link=no}}</ref> She was also a regular contributor of columns to [[The Guardian]] and [[Tatler|Tatler.]]<ref name=":0" />
Balls wrote a fortnightly column on Westminster politics for the [[i (newspaper)|''i (newspaper)'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/author/katy-balls|title=Katy Balls - inews.co.uk|website=inews.co.uk}}</ref> Her column was nominated for Political Commentary of the Year at the 2017 [[The Press Awards|Press Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/media/i-nominated-six-prestigious-journalism-awards/|title=i nominated for six prestigious journalism awards|last=Team|first=i|date=13 February 2018|website=inews.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=15 February 2019}}</ref> She hosts a [[podcast]] entitled ''Women With Balls''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/speaker/katy-balls/|website=www.battleofideas.org.uk|title=Katy Balls|access-date=28 September 2020}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Balls has made several television appearances, including ''[[The Bolt Report]]'', ''[[Good Morning Britain (2014 TV programme)|Good Morning Britain]]'', [[Sky News]], ''[[Politics Live]]'', ''[[The Andrew Marr Show]]'', [[Question Time (TV programme)|Question Time]] and ''[[Have I Got News for You]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm9058871/|title=Katy Balls|website=IMDb}} {{unreliable?|date=May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tellymix.co.uk/tv/437671-whos-on-have-i-got-news-for-you-2020-continues-tonight-with-these-guests-may7.html|title=Who's on Have I Got News For You? 2020 continues tonight with these guests|first=Josh|last=Darvill|date=7 May 2020|website=TellyMix}}</ref>
On 21 February 2025, Balls joined ''[[The Times]]'' and ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' becoming their Washington editor and columnist.<ref name=":0" /> She has been a studio guest on [[GB News]]{{'s}} ''The Late Show Live'', broadcast to the UK, from Washington.{{cn|date=January 2026}}
== Personal life == Balls is married to Max Bye, son of [[Ruby Wax]] and [[Ed Bye]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Mick|date=24 April 2020|title=Ruby Wax: 'We're in survival mode, fight or flight, after this the shocks will come'|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/ruby-wax-survival-mode-fight-flight-shocks-will-come/|access-date=7 March 2021|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last= Nelson|first=Fraser|date=15 July 2021|title= Is it up to the state to tackle obesity?|language=en-GB|work=The Spectator|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcast/is-it-up-to-the-state-to-tackle-obesity-|access-date=21 July 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|9058871}} *{{Twitter|katyballs}}
{{s-start}} {{s-media}} {{s-bef | before = [[James Forsyth (journalist)|James Forsyth]] }} {{s-ttl | title = Political Editor of ''[[The Spectator]]'' | years = 2023–2025 }} {{s-vac}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balls, Katy}} [[Category:Writers from Aberdeen]] [[Category:People from North Berwick]] [[Category:People educated at North Berwick High School]] [[Category:British political journalists]] [[Category:21st-century British journalists]] [[Category:21st-century British women journalists]] [[Category:The Spectator people]] [[Category:The Daily Telegraph people]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1989 births]] [[Category:Alumni of St Aidan's College, Durham]]