In Norway, he is well known as an experienced news presenter and correspondent, having worked for the Norwegian state-owned radio and television public broadcasting company, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.

Hansen was born in Tromsø and started as a newspaper journalist in Nordlys (1957–1960 and 1961–1963), Halden Arbeiderblad (1960–1961) and Arbeiderbladet.

He presided over election debates and has also appeared several times on CNN as well as other international news channels.

From 2002 to 2007, he was the host for the Thursday night foreign news program Urix.

Bjørn Hansen currently lives in his seaside house in Nesodden with his wife.