Francis is a journalist, writer and broadcaster. He has written for The Guardian, the Evening Standard and Private Eye and is the author of several books. His book, Hoo-hahs and Passing Frenzies: Collected Journalism 1991 – 2001 won the Orwell Prize in 2003. His biography of Karl Marx won the Deutscher Memorial Prize in 1999. Francis is a regular panellist on The News Quiz and Have I Got News For You.