He then studied French and Italian at Robinson College, Cambridge, during which time he spent a year in Rome teaching English at a secondary school.
He then moved to London, working as a freelance producer on BBC Radio 5 Live, and then an overnight reporter on Sky News.
In light of the move of BBC Radio 5 Live to MediaCityUK in Salford, Laurie went freelance from the start of 2012.
In the wake of the election of Pope Francis in March 2013, the BBC temporarily deployed Laurie to Rome as a general news correspondent.
He was also a main anchor for 5 live, presenting when the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher broke on 8 April 2013.