Landale was educated at Eton College, a famous independent school in the town of Eton in Berkshire, Epigram Online and was a contemporary of London Mayor Boris Johnson and Prime Minister David Cameron, followed by the University of Bristol. While studying Politics there, he became the first editor of Epigram, Bristol University's independent student newspaper.

Before joining the BBC in 2003, Landale spent 10 years as a reporter at The Times newspaper, latterly as Assistant Foreign Editor.

Landale covers political stories for the BBC News channel throughout the week, as well as leading its PMQs coverage on Wednesdays. He has also presented some relief shifts on the channel.

Landale lives in London. He was diagnosed with large B-cell Non-Hodgkins lymphoma in October 2008, and has undergone six courses of chemotherapy.