Invitation – An Evening With Legendary Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt

The Steeple Times

2 days ago

Martin Brunt Matthew Steeples 27th January 2026 Crime Dinner PJ's London

Matthew Steeples invites you to join him as he celebrates his 45th birthday with a discussion-dinner with Sky News crime legend Martin Brunt on the 27th January 2026 in London

“High praise for the Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt. When a hack from (another) newspaper phoned Suffolk Police press office with a query on the serial killer case, he was told: ‘Call Martin Brunt. He knows everything before we do.’ A little concerning.”

Hugo Rifkind, The Times, 22nd December 2006

Matthew Steeples invites you to PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie in London on his own 45th birthday for an evening where he will chat to the author, commentator and renowned Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt about his 36 years delving into stories of deaths, deviancy and drama in Britain and beyond.

Educated in Soham – best known as the place where Ian Huntley brutally slayed 10-year-olds Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in August 2002 – Brunt began his career as a reporter on local newspapers before moving to the Sunday Mirror as chief reporter and then joined Sky News for its launch in February 1989. For 36 years hence, Brunt became a staple in households throughout the land as he covered stories ranging from the ‘House of Horrors’ murders committed by Fred and Rosemary West in Gloucester to the still ongoing case of the disappearance of the toddler Madeleine McCann in Portugal in 2007.

Aside from meeting murderers and maniacs, Brunt’s career in crime reporting is highlighted as one where he became acknowledged for his ability to gain access to sources others could not dream of and one where he has been able to observe the character traits of such criminals as “Britain’s most violent prisoner” Charles Bronson from an alternative angle. He recounts what he describes in his 2023 memoir No One Got Cracked Over The Head For No Reason as the “odd moments of humour or humanity” he has found in “even the darkest cases” with an example where Hatton Gang vault robber described his gang as being “Dad’s Army rather than criminal masterminds,” for example.

On 27th January at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie – following on from rip-roaring evenings with amongst others actor, writer and producer Steven Berkoff, filmmaker Amanda Eliasch, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York author Andrew Lownie and Manhunt and Crime Suspect host Peter Bleksley – you will get to enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner after 45-minutes of conversation and questions with this tenacious reporter and commentator and to learn of some of the true stories behind the headlines of cases ranging from the 2015 murder conviction of South African blade runner Oscar Pistorious to the 1987 Knightsbridge Safe Deposit robbery.

Tickets are priced at £85 per person and include a glass of Prosecco on arrival and half a bottle of either red or white wine per person also with dinner. Full details of how to book follow below.

We do hope you can join us for what will be an evening of convivial conversation and classic crime capers.

Follow Martin Brunt on X at @skymartinbrunt.

Follow Matthew Steeples on X at @M_Steeples and The Steeple Times at @SteepleTimes.

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Martin Brunt spent 36 years at Sky News. Of his time there, he recently remarked: “It all began at a time when there was no 24-hour TV news channel in Europe, Margaret Thatcher was PM, Germany was two countries divided by the Berlin wall, Kylie was still just a soap actress and beer was a penny a pint. I made up that last bit. Prince Harry was a toddler and many of my current colleagues weren’t even born… We were hip young gunslingers who shot up the TV news establishment and eventually built a global audience who loved us for being bold, brash and innovative. It was fun to be part of the revolution. Early on, I tried wars, earthquakes and famines, but very quickly decided a life of crime was better for my health, though there have been dodgy times… Being Sky News crime correspondent has been the best job in the world. But it’s changed. The phone hacking scandal, the Leveson Report – which frowned on old police-press relationships – new privacy laws, and growing risk aversion have scuppered the sort of crime reporting I once did. Happily, things are improving slowly… Over the years, I did think about opportunities elsewhere but for me, obviously, Sky was the limit… Sky News has become my Hotel California…I can check out anytime I like, but I can never leave. Here’s to the next 36 years.”

The case that Brunt has become most famously linked to is the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Praia da Luz, Portugal on 3rd May 2007. He has delved into this story again and again over the years and most recently spent much time covering the thus far unsuccessful investigation into the German criminal Christian Brueckner.

Other notable cases have included that involving the Knightsbridge Safe Deposit robber Valerio Viccei, the murder of the BBC television presenter Jill Dando and the notoriously violent prisoner Charles Bronson

Booking Details

TIMINGS

The event is to be held on Tuesday 27^th January 2026.
Arrivals for Prosecco in a private setting on the first floor of PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie from 6.30pm.
Matthew Steeples in conversation with Martin Brunt at 7pm prompt with audience questions to follow for 45 minutes.
3-course dinner with wine, with options for those with particular dietary requirements, to follow. Guests will have the opportunity to chat with Martin Brunt and Matthew Steeples during the dinner.
After dinner, guests will be welcome to continue discussions downstairs at the legendary PJ’s bar for further cocktails and conversation.

ADDRESS

The event is to be held at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie, 52 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 6HH.
The nearest London Underground station is South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines); it is located just 5 minutes away on foot.
The event is to be held on the first floor of the building; access is by staircase only.

PAYMENT FOR TICKETS AND BOOKING QUERIES

Deadline for booking – Monday 26^th January 2026 at 4pm; tickets can only be purchased in advance and guest names must be supplied for allocated place settings.

Tickets can be purchased at a rate of £85 per person. Please make payment by bank transfer to:

Bank: Barclays Bank
Account Name: Longreach Publishing Limited
Sort Code: 20-90-74
Account Number: 63608697
IBAN: GB13BUKB20907463608697
SWIFTBIC: BUKB
Please reference payments “BRUNT” and include your surname and the surnames of any guests also to aid our record keeper.

Should you have any queries or questions, please contact Jane Monckton at editorial@thesteepletimes.com

SET MENU – 3 course dinner, Tuesday 27^th January 2026

The ticket price includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival, ½ a bottle of either red or white wine per person and a choice of one of each of the following:

STARTERS

SEARED TUNA wasabi & avocado purée, toasted sesame seeds, yuzu and soy dressing

SCOTCH BEEF CARPACCIO wild rocket, parmesan, mustard dressing

BURRATINA shaved truffle, baby plum tomatoes, rocket, toasted focaccia

CRISPY FRIED ARTICHOKES caper and herb mayonnaise

MAINS

THE PJ’S BURGER 8oz patty, mature cheddar cheese, bacon, iceberg lettuce, pickle, smoked crackling mayonnaise, fries

CHICKEN MILANESE wild rocket, artichoke & Reggio cheese salad, toasted sesame, tahini honey dressing

GRILLED SEABASS FILLET French beans, cherry tomatoes, black olives & pesto

ROAST CAULIFLOWER STEAK chickpeas and roasted red pepper, chipotle hummus, chimichurri

PUDDINGS

CLASSIC CRÈME BRULEE