Born in 1959 to Jewish parents Myer and Miriam Sopel, his family moved from Stepney to North London when he was eleven.

In 2005, Sopel joined The Politics Show on BBC One replacing Jeremy Vine as the programme's main presenter.

It broadcast every Sunday at noon and Sopel interviewed key politicians and advisers, including Prime Minister Tony Blair, opposition leader David Cameron, Jack Straw, Gordon Brown and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

[6] In January 2014, Sopel had a rare interview with the Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

[7] In 2019, BuzzFeed News revealed that Sopel gave a paid confidential speech to Philip Morris International (the maker of Marlboro cigarettes) at a staff conference in Miami.

Americast received positive reviews and performed well on the iTunes chart, at times becoming the UK's most listened to podcast of any genre.

In October 2021, Sopel announced his departure as North America editor,[14] saying he was taking a "long break" to write a book.

[16] In February 2022, Sopel announced he would be leaving the BBC after an exclusive signing with LBC to launch a new podcast and joint radio show with fellow presenter Emily Maitlis.