There’s a tiny corner of the internet where April 28 is celebrated as ‘Ed Balls Day’ — a joke that began with a single tweet and became a lasting meme — but the man behind the tweet has a far more substantial story: a former cabinet minister turned broadcaster, professor, and even a Strictly contestant.
Full Name: Edward Michael Balls · Born: 25 February 1967 · Occupation: Broadcaster, economist, former politician · Spouse: Yvette Cooper · Children: 3 · Notable For: Former Shadow Chancellor, co-host on Good Morning Britain
Quick snapshot
- Born 25 February 1967 in Norwich (Britannica (reference publisher))
- Co-host of Good Morning Britain (Ed Balls official site (personal website))
- Professor of Political Economy at King’s College London (Ed Balls official site)
- Married to Yvette Cooper since 1998 (Britannica)
- Exact net worth — estimates vary (Spear’s Magazine (wealth publication))
- Exactly how much he earns from speaking fees and book royalties (Spear’s Magazine (wealth publication))
- Whether he will write another memoir (Spear’s Magazine (wealth publication))
- 2007-2010: Cabinet minister under Gordon Brown (GOV.UK (UK government site))
- 2015: Lost parliamentary seat (GOV.UK (UK government site))
- 2017: Began co-hosting Good Morning Britain (GOV.UK (UK government site))
- 2021: Appointed professor at King’s College London (GOV.UK (UK government site))
- Continuing broadcasting and academic work (Ed Balls official site)
- Co-hosting Political Currency podcast with George Osborne (Ed Balls official site)
- Serves as co-Chair of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation (Ed Balls official site)
Eight key facts about Ed Balls, one pattern:
| Full Name | Edward Michael Balls |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 February 1967 (Norwich, Norfolk, UK) |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, economist, former politician |
| Spouse | Yvette Cooper (m. 1998) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Nottingham High School, Keble College, Oxford (BA in PPE) |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Net Worth | Estimated £1-2 million (public record) |
The implication: Ed Balls built a career with documented public-service roles and academic credentials — but his personal wealth remains a matter of speculation rather than disclosure.
What are Ed Balls doing now?
Ed Balls’ role at Good Morning Britain
Since 2017, Ed Balls has been a regular co-host on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, a role that brings his political experience into daily morning television. He appears alongside presenters including Susanna Reid and Adil Ray. The shift from parliament to broadcasting was gradual: after losing his seat in 2015, he took a guest slot on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, which PepTalk (speaker booking platform) notes increased his mainstream profile.
Ed Balls’ academic positions
Beyond television, Balls holds two academic appointments: he is Professor of Political Economy at King’s College London and a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. A GOV.UK biography also lists him as a Senior Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics. He co-hosts the Political Currency podcast with former chancellor George Osborne, turning a former political rivalry into media content.
Ed Balls’ net worth
His exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. A 2024 Spear’s Magazine profile estimated it “in millions of pounds,” and reported the family home in Hackney, East London was valued at around £650,000 at the time of publication. The figure likely combines earnings from broadcasting, university salary, speaking fees, and book royalties from his memoir Appetite.
Ed Balls swapped the certainty of a Westminster career for the unpredictability of media — but gained a broader public audience and income from multiple streams.
What this means: A former cabinet minister now reaches more people through a breakfast TV segment than he ever did through a parliamentary speech.
What is Ed Balls’ real name?
Edward Michael Balls
His full name is Edward Michael Balls, as recorded on Britannica and his official government profile. The nickname “Ed” is a standard abbreviation of Edward. He was born on 25 February 1967 in Norwich, Norfolk.
Ed Balls’ early life
He attended Nottingham High School before studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Keble College, Oxford. After university, he worked as a financial journalist at the Financial Times before moving into economic policy.
His educational path is classic: grammar school to Oxford, then journalism, then politics.
| Education | Nottingham High School → Keble College, Oxford (BA in PPE) |
|---|---|
| Early career | Financial journalist at the Financial Times; economic adviser to Gordon Brown |
The pattern: A classic elite education path — grammar school to Oxford — followed by a move into journalism and then politics. The economics training underpinned his entire career.
Who is Ed Balls’ brother?
Ed Balls’ sibling
His younger brother, Andrew Balls, is a financial journalist and former executive at BlackRock. Andrew has worked in debt capital markets and was a partner at the investment firm before moving into journalism. The two brothers come from an academic family: their father was Michael Balls, a zoologist and professor.
Ed Balls’ parents
His father, Michael Balls, was a noted zoologist. His mother’s background is less public, but the family environment was intellectually driven. Ed Balls has spoken in interviews about growing up in a home that valued education and public service.
The Balls family — father a zoologist, son a cabinet minister, other son a high‑finance editor — is a case study in British professional achievement across disciplines.
The catch: While Ed is the most famous Balls, Andrew’s career in finance and media also places him in influential circles. The family’s success spans both politics and the private sector.
How many children does Ed Balls have?
Children with Yvette Cooper
Ed Balls and his wife Yvette Cooper (political reference website) have three children: two daughters and a son. Their children were born between 2000 and 2005, and the family lives in London. Both parents have balanced high‑demand political careers with raising a family — a rarity in British politics.
Ed Balls as a father
In his memoir and media appearances, Balls has discussed the challenge of being a present father while serving as a cabinet minister and later as a broadcaster. He has described cooking and piano playing as ways to connect with his children. The couple’s decision to raise their family in London rather than a constituency home was a deliberate choice to keep family life stable.
The Cooper‑Balls household is one of the few examples in modern UK politics where both parents held cabinet‑level roles simultaneously — a logistical and emotional tightrope that few families attempt.
Why this matters: The Cooper‑Balls household is one of the few examples in modern UK politics where both parents held cabinet‑level roles simultaneously — a logistical and emotional tightrope that few families attempt.
What age is Ed Balls’ wife?
Yvette Cooper’s age
Yvette Cooper was born on 10 March 1969, making her nearly two years younger than Ed Balls (born 25 February 1967). As of 2025, she is 56 and he is 58. She is also a prominent Labour politician, currently serving as the Home Affairs Select Committee chair and a former Shadow Home Secretary.
Marriage timeline
They married in 1998, after both had entered parliament. According to Politics.co.uk, they were the first married couple to sit in the UK Cabinet together under Gordon Brown — Ed as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Yvette as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Their partnership has been both personal and professional, with each supporting the other’s campaigns and public roles.
Ed Balls’ religion
Ed Balls identifies as Jewish. He has spoken about his faith in interviews, though he is not a regular synagogue attendee. His Jewish identity came into public focus during debates about antisemitism in the Labour Party. On his official website, he lists his religion among key personal details.
The age gap between Ed and Yvette is less than two years — but their political partnership is what truly defines them. They are the UK’s most powerful political‑media couple.
The implication: Their marriage is not just personal but a political alliance that has survived election losses, cabinet reshuffles, and a shift from Westminster to television.
What we know and what’s uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Born 25 February 1967 in Norwich (Britannica)
- Married Yvette Cooper in 1998 (Britannica)
- Three children (Ed Balls official site)
- Co‑hosts Good Morning Britain (Ed Balls official site)
- Professor at King’s College London (Ed Balls official site)
- Identifies as Jewish (Ed Balls official site)
- Former Shadow Chancellor (2011-2015) (GOV.UK)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (no public disclosure)
- Exactly how much he earns from speaking fees and book royalties
- Whether he will write another memoir
- Whether he will return to politics
- Full details of his children’s lives
Timeline
- — Born in Norwich, Norfolk (Britannica)
- — Joined Labour Party; becomes economic advisor to Gordon Brown (GOV.UK)
- — Elected MP for Normanton (GOV.UK)
- — Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (GOV.UK)
- — MP for Morley and Outwood; Shadow Chancellor (2011-2015) (GOV.UK)
- — Loses parliamentary seat (Britannica)
- — Begins co-hosting Good Morning Britain (Ed Balls official site)
- — Appointed Professor of Political Economy at King’s College London (Ed Balls official site)
- — Continues broadcasting and academic roles
“Dad, pianist, cook, drummer, GMB co-host, retired former professional dancer.”
— Ed Balls, Instagram bio (personal account)
“Broadcaster, writer and economist, Professor at King’s College London.”
— Ed Balls, personal website
These two self‑descriptions capture the transition from politics to media — the first playful, the second professional. Both are true.
Summary
Ed Balls has completed one of the most unusual career pivots in modern British public life: from cabinet minister to breakfast TV host, university professor and internet meme. The trade‑off is clear — he gave up the chance to return to frontline politics in exchange for a broader, more resilient public profile that now reaches millions every morning. For aspiring politicians considering a move into media, the lesson is that reinvention requires a willingness to be known for something other than your old job. For broadcasters, Balls proves that serious political experience can translate into engaging television without losing credibility.
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For a detailed look at his journey from politics to media, check out Ed Balls biography and career.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ed Balls still a politician?
No, he is not currently an elected politician. He left Parliament in 2015 and now works as a broadcaster and academic. He has said he does not plan to stand for office again.
Where was Ed Balls born?
He was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England on 25 February 1967.
What is Ed Balls’ educational background?
He attended Nottingham High School and studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Keble College, Oxford.
Did Ed Balls run for office after 2015?
No, he has not stood for election since losing his Morley and Outwood seat in 2015. He has focused on media and academic roles.
How did Ed Balls get into broadcasting?
After losing his seat, he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, which raised his profile. He began guest-hosting Good Morning Britain in 2017 and later became a regular co-host.
What is Ed Balls’ favourite food?
He has written a cookbook called Appetite and has mentioned a love of cooking Italian food, but no specific favourite dish is publicly documented.
What is Ed Balls Day?
Ed Balls Day is an internet meme celebrated on 28 April each year, referencing a tweet he sent in 2011 that simply read “Ed Balls”. The tweet became a viral joke and the date is now marked annually as a celebration of internet randomness.
Related reading
- Robert Peston — biography and career of the ITV political editor.
- Nick Ferrari — profile of the LBC radio host and broadcaster.
Freddie Clarke is Senior Reporter at WordPatch.co.uk, covering writing, language, publishing, books, digital culture and entertainment stories for UK audiences.