Payne began his career on the BBC's journalistic training programme in 1986 with BBC Radio Lancashire, and was once named as Northwest Young Journalist of the Year. He then became a producer with Radio 2, and latterly on other programmes including Radio 4'sToday. Payne then joined BBC Radio 5 Live, covering a wide variety of sports, as well as presenting Sport on 5. In 2000 he became the presenter of the weekday afternoon show. Payne twice won a Sony Radio Award.
Payne joined Sky in 2003 initially presenting Monday Night Football, but was replaced by Jeff Stelling from the start of the 2005–06 season. Payne presented FA Cup coverage during 2005–06, and the League Cup from 2003 to 2006. Following Rob McCaffrey's departure from Sky, Payne hosted Gillette Soccer Special on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, before taking over as anchor of Goals on Sunday.
Return to BBC
Payne returned to Radio 5 Live in June 2010, again mainly presenting 5 Live Sport, as well as standing in on Up All Night, Tony Livesey's programme, and Weekend Breakfast. In addition, Payne presented Scores, a Saturday sports programme on LBC, and also wrote on their blog. Payne also presented the London and South East edition of the BBC Football League programme Late Kick Off in March 2011. As a freelance, on 5 November 2010 Payne crossed National Union of Journalists picket lines to present a BBC Breakfast radio programme that was broadcast on 5 Live, Radio Ulster and Radio Scotland. He also crossed NUJ picket lines to present 5 Live Breakfast with Julia Bradbury on 15 July 2011.
ITV News
On 2 September 2013, Payne became the new ITV News Sports Correspondent, replacing BBC-bound Natalie Pirks.
Other TV work
In June 2012, Payne started presenting on Sports Tonight Live, a new sports television channel that broadcasts on Primetime Channel 498 on Sky. Payne continued to work for the station from the start of the 2012–13 football season, presenting every Tuesday and Wednesday night from 7-10pm alongside his regular guest, former Arsenal midfielder Perry Groves.
LBC
Payne presented Scores on Global Radio's LBC, a sports based talk show which aired from 3pm to 6:30pm on Saturday afternoons. In 2015, Payne's show was changed from being sports based to being a news phone-in discussion programme, with the new airtime of 3pm to 6pm on Saturdays. In April 2018, Payne's show moved to the 'Early Breakfast' timeslot of 4am to 7am on Saturdays. From 2018, Payne presents a Saturday & Sunday afternoon show 3-6pm, plus a cover presenter for Saturday Breakfast and other weekday shows across LBC network.
