Hugo Rifkind

Hugo Rifkind is a columnist and leader writer for The Times, he writes a weekly opinion column and My Week, a diary parody from the perspective of somebody in the news that week. Formerly a columnist for The Herald, he joined The Times in 2005 as a diarist and features writer. He also writes columns for The Spectator and GQ magazine.

Hugo Rifkind has won multiple awards for his writing. He was named Columnist of the Year in the 2011 Editorial Intelligence Comment Awards, and Media Commentator of the Year in the same awards in 2012. He was highly commended in the Best of Humour category at the Society of Editors' Press Awards in 2012.

He was Stonewall's Journalist of the Year in 2012, in recognition of his strong support for equal marriage. The same year, he was also named Best Grooming Journalist in the P&G Beauty Awards. In 2015, at the Comment Awards, he was named Arts, Culture and Entertainment Commentator of The Year. Then, in 2017, he won both Best of Humour and Critic of the Year at the Society of Editors' Press Awards.

He hosts a weekly show on Times Radio, an entertaining talk show with guests on news and culture, Saturdays 10am-1pm. He is also a frequent panellist on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, and is an occasional speaker on TV shows such as BBC1’s Question Time.

Born and raised in Edinburgh, but now a long time resident of north London, Hugo Rifkind is the son of the Conservative Party politician Sir Malcolm Rifkind. He began his career in journalism as an editorial assistant for the show business website Peoplenews.com, before becoming a freelance writer for The Times and the Evening Standard, and then a columnist for The Herald in Glasgow from 2002 to 2005.

His first novel, ‘Overexposure’, based around a showbiz reporter, published in 2006 was well received “Rifkind has a cheeky sense of humour, and has successfully pulled together a fast-moving and entertaining little comic novel. Like all decent comedy, it’s near the knuckle, too.” (Independent)

In 2013, he published My Week*: The Secret Diaries of Almost Everyone, an exhilarating anthology of the spoof weekly diaries Rifikind's written over seven years at The Times. In 2006, as the gossip columnist for The Times, Hugo realised it would be much easier to do his job if he could make all the stories up. So he did.

For years, Rifkind's hilarious 'My Week' column satirised anyone foolish or unfortunate enough to make headlines that week, entertaining politicos and casual readers alike. Each column acted as a fictional diary, parodying the musings of its target (and friends) for five days' worth of comic value. Oprah, Bieber, Berlusconi (the gift who keeps on giving), Cameron, Clarkson, Obama, Mother Miliband and a Pic'n'mix shovel are just a few of those on his eclectic list of ill-fated victims.

After much badgering from loyal fans, Hugo finally hand-selected his best, funniest and most poignant, presented with new introductions. None are spared in his comical compilation, and readers old and new delighted in the satirical skewering of some of our most famous (and infamous) figures.

Hugo Rifkind is an accomplished after dinner speaker and conference moderator, his specialisms include current affairs, foreign politics, culture, books and literary events, technology, and social media.

Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Hugo Rifkind. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.