Stephen Jardine was born on 28 February 1963 in Dumfries, Scotland. He is the son of Bill Jardine, a former chairman of Queen of the South football club.

He studied at the University of Edinburgh and later trained in journalism at University College Cardiff. His education led him into broadcasting, where he began his career in radio before moving into television journalism.

Jardine started as a reporter at Radio Tay before joining Scottish Television (STV), working on Scotland Today. He later became Scotland Correspondent for GMTV, followed by a role as Europe Correspondent based in Paris, covering major international events.

He returned to STV in the 2000s, hosting programmes such as The Hour, Seven Days, and election coverage. He also fronted live events and talk shows, building a strong reputation in Scottish broadcasting.

Since 2019, he has hosted Debate Night on BBC Scotland, a flagship current affairs programme where members of the public question politicians. He also presents on BBC Radio Scotland and writes for national newspapers.