Howell was a business presenter for BBC World around 1994–1995, though according to Michael Crick "the most remarkable thing about his presenting, apparently, was that he used to wear a bow-tie."[5]
In May 1996, Howell helped set up Fifth World Productions Company. He was one of the directors there until his resignation in October 2003.[6] Howell also held directorships with associated media production companies – Land & Vision Ltd (1998–2002) and The Solution Channel Ltd (2000–2002).[7][better source needed]
In 2012 Howell reported receiving death threats after responding to a question on whether he would be acting to try to halt Israeli military actions with a reference to Hamas rocket attacks in an online exchange.[12][13] Howell is a member of the Parliamentary Group of the Conservative Friends of Israel.[14] Howell declared having received free flights to and accommodation in Israel in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.[15][better source needed]
Howell was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum.[16] He voted in favour of the withdrawal agreement of the UK from the EU, and advocated against a second referendum to ensure the referendum result was honoured.[17]
At the Conservative Party Conference in 2017, he was quoted by the Henley Standard as saying: "My message to Boris is to keep his bloody mouth shut!" regarding Johnson's demand that the post-Brexit transition should last "not a second longer" than two years.[18] A year later, at the party conference in 2018, when Theresa May was reportedly being undermined by Johnson, The Guardian reported Howell as saying: "As far as I'm concerned Boris can just fuck off."[19]
In 2019, following the election of Johnson to the leadership of the Conservative Party, Howell was quoted by the Henley Standard as saying: "Boris has been elected by a large majority of the party members and I'm a democrat and we must follow that."[20]
Howell confirmed on 11 April 2023 that he would not stand for re-election at the 2024 general election, citing old age and his intention to pursue ‘other avenues’.[22][23]