Introduction
Robert Crampton is a British journalist and author who has worked with The Times since 1991. He became widely recognised for his Beta Male column, which started in 2001 and uses everyday experiences to discuss family life, relationships, ageing and modern society.
He has spent more than three decades in British journalism. His work has included interviews, newspaper features, opinion writing, political reporting and regular columns.
Crampton also won Interviewer of the Year at the British Press Awards in 2004. In 2017, his years of personal writing became the basis of the book How to Be a Beta Male.
As of August 2026, he remains professionally active and continues to publish work through The Times.
Robert Crampton Quick Facts
| Quick Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Crampton |
| Date of birth | 10 August 1964 |
| Age | 62 years old, as of August 2026 |
| Birthplace | Blackpool, England |
| Grew up in | Hull, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Journalist, columnist, interviewer and author |
| Known for | Beta Male column |
| Newspaper | The Times |
| Joined The Times | 1991 |
| Beta Male began | 2001 |
| University | Wadham College, University of Oxford |
| Subject studied | Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) |
| Major award | Interviewer of the Year, British Press Awards, 2004 |
| Book | How to Be a Beta Male |
| Book published | 2017 |
| Wife | Nicola |
| Children | Sam and Rachel |
| Father | Peter Crampton |
| Current status | Active journalist and contributor |
Who Is Robert Crampton?
Robert Crampton is an experienced British newspaper writer whose career is closely connected with The Times.
He joined the publication in 1991 when he was 27 years old. During his early years there, he worked mainly on features and interviews.
His career later expanded into personal columns, commentary, political reporting and editorial work.
For readers interested in British media profiles, his career is a useful example of how a newspaper journalist can develop a recognisable voice while working across several different areas of reporting.
However, his best-known work remains the Beta Male column.
Robert Crampton’s Age and Date of Birth
He was born on 10 August 1964.
This means Robert Crampton is 62 years old as of August 2026.
His birth date can be established from his own published writing. In a column published on 10 August 2021, he stated that he was turning 57 that day.
His age is sometimes searched because he has written openly about growing older, family life and the changes that come with different stages of adulthood.
Where Was Robert Crampton Born?
He was born in Blackpool, England.
Although Blackpool was his birthplace, much of his childhood was spent in Hull.
He has written about growing up in suburban Hull during the 1970s. His upbringing there also connects with several parts of his later personal writing.
Education
Crampton attended a comprehensive school before going to the University of Oxford.
He studied at Wadham College, Oxford, where his degree subject was Philosophy, Politics and Economics, commonly known as PPE.
PPE combines ideas from government, society, economics and philosophy.
These subjects are closely connected with many areas he later covered as a journalist, particularly politics, public affairs and opinion writing.
Early Career at The Times
His long association with The Times began in 1991.
He initially became known inside the newspaper for feature writing and interviews.
Interviewing later became one of the strongest parts of his professional reputation.
In 2004, he received the Interviewer of the Year award at the British Press Awards.
The honour recognised his work during a period when newspaper interviews remained an important part of national print journalism.
Over time, he moved beyond interviews and began producing a broader mix of columns, features and commentary.
What Is the Beta Male Column?
The Beta Male column started in 2001 in The Times Saturday Magazine.
It became the work most strongly connected with his name.
Instead of focusing mainly on major political events or celebrity news, the column often uses ordinary experiences as its starting point.
Subjects have included:
- marriage;
- parenting;
- ageing;
- relationships;
- social behaviour;
- work;
- family life;
- everyday worries;
- changing attitudes between generations.
The style is personal and observational.
Crampton frequently uses events from his own life to discuss wider experiences that many readers recognise.
That approach helped Beta Male continue for more than two decades.
Why Is Robert Crampton Famous?
He is mainly known for three parts of his career.
First, he has worked for The Times for more than 30 years.
Second, his Beta Male writing developed into one of his most recognisable newspaper features.
Third, his interviewing work earned national professional recognition when he won Interviewer of the Year in 2004.
His long career is also notable because he has continued working across different newspaper formats instead of remaining limited to one type of journalism.
Other Work at The Times
Beta Male is only one part of his newspaper career.
His professional profile also includes:
- feature writing;
- interviews;
- Times2 columns;
- opinion articles;
- leader and editorial writing;
- political reporting.
He has therefore worked on both personal lifestyle material and more traditional newspaper subjects.
Since 2010, his work has also included a regular Times2 column.
This broad range helps explain why he has remained connected with the publication for such a long period.
Robert Crampton’s Book
In 2017, he published How to Be a Beta Male.
The book developed from many years of his newspaper columns.
It brings together observations about subjects such as marriage, fatherhood, getting older, relationships and ordinary family experiences.
The book was published through Transworld, part of Penguin Random House.
Its connection with the Beta Male column made it a natural extension of the writing readers already associated with him.
Is Robert Crampton Still Writing for The Times?
Yes.
As of August 2026, he remains an active contributor to The Times.
His official professional profile continues to list his work, and new writing was still being published during August 2026.
This is important because some readers searching his name may encounter articles from much earlier in his career and wonder whether he has retired.
There is no confirmed indication in the available reliable information that he has retired from journalism.
Robert Crampton’s Wife
Crampton is married to Nicola.
He has publicly referred to her as his wife in his own writing.
Their relationship is also part of some of his personal columns because marriage and everyday family experiences are frequent subjects in Beta Male.
In a 2024 column, he wrote that they had been married for approximately 25 years at that time.
His publisher has also documented that the two attended the same school in Hull and knew each other from an early age.
Does Robert Crampton Have Children?
Yes.
He has publicly written about two children:
- Sam, his son;
- Rachel, his daughter.
Both have appeared as subjects in his writing about parenting and family life.
As his children became adults, his columns also explored how the relationship between parents and grown-up children changes.
These family references are significant because they form part of his published professional work rather than being information taken from gossip sources.
His Father, Peter Crampton
Robert’s father was Peter Crampton.
Peter Crampton worked as a teacher and later entered politics.
He served as a Labour Member of the European Parliament for Humberside.
Growing up in a family with a connection to both education and politics may help provide background to Robert’s later interest in journalism and public affairs, although his own career developed independently through newspapers.
What Makes His Writing Different?
Much of his best-known work begins with something small and personal.
A family conversation, getting older, parenting or an awkward everyday situation can become the starting point for a larger observation.
This means his writing often sits between traditional journalism and personal commentary.
Rather than presenting himself as someone with every answer, he frequently uses his own experiences as part of the story.
That style has allowed his work to cover serious topics while remaining accessible to general newspaper readers.
Career Timeline
1964
Born in Blackpool, England.
Childhood and Teenage Years
Grew up mainly in Hull.
University Years
Studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Wadham College, Oxford.
1991
Joined The Times at age 27.
2001
Started the Beta Male column in The Times Saturday Magazine.
2004
Won Interviewer of the Year at the British Press Awards.
2010
Began contributing a weekly Times2 column.
2017
Published How to Be a Beta Male.
2026
Continues writing and contributing to The Times.
Common Questions About Robert Crampton
How old is Robert Crampton?
He is 62 years old as of August 2026. He was born on 10 August 1964.
What does Robert Crampton do?
He is a British journalist, columnist, interviewer and author.
Where does he work?
His professional career has been closely associated with The Times, which he joined in 1991.
What is Robert Crampton famous for?
He is particularly known for the Beta Male column and for his award-winning newspaper interviews.
Did he study at Oxford?
Yes. He studied PPE at Wadham College, Oxford.
Who is Robert Crampton’s wife?
His wife is Nicola, whom he has publicly discussed in his newspaper writing.
Does he have children?
Yes. He has publicly named his children as Sam and Rachel.
Has he written a book?
Yes. How to Be a Beta Male was published in 2017.
Is Robert Crampton still working?
Yes. As of August 2026, he remains active as a Times contributor.
Final Overview
Robert Crampton has built a long career around newspaper journalism, interviews and personal commentary.
He joined The Times in 1991 and later became particularly associated with Beta Male, a column that has covered ordinary life, relationships, parenting and ageing since 2001.
His professional achievements also include winning Interviewer of the Year at the 2004 British Press Awards and publishing How to Be a Beta Male in 2017.
Outside his professional work, he has openly written about his wife Nicola and their children, Sam and Rachel, making family experience an important part of his published voice.
More than three decades after joining The Times, he remains an active writer. For readers searching his name in 2026, the simplest answer is that he is a British Times journalist, columnist and author best known for Beta Male and his long career in newspaper writing.
Leave a Reply