The logo of the BBC at the company's headquarters at Broadcasting House in central London, UK, on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. The UK will look into how BBC Chairman Richard Sharp was appointed to his role, following allegations by a newspaper that he was recommended for the job weeks after helping then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson secure an £800,000 ($990,000) loan guarantee. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

BREAKING BBC News presenter quits after 35 years with emotional statement

Editor and presenter of Newsnight Mark Urban has announced he is leaving the BBC after 35 years at the station

by · The Mirror

BBC star Mark Urban has announced he is quitting the station after 35 years.

Urban, who is the the diplomatic editor of Newsnight and occasional host of the current affairs programme, released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, telling viewers it was 'time for a change.'

In November it was revealed that Newsnight staff had reacted with dismay to huge changes to the show which will be cut by 30 minutes and have staff reduced from 57 to 23 as part of cost cuts.

Announcing his plans to leave, Diplomatic editor Mark Urban posted today: " I’ll be leaving the BBC at the end of May. Newsnight in its current format will end then, so most posts will go. I decided not to apply for other BBC jobs. Working there for 35 yrs has been life defining: an eyewitness to history collaborating with such brilliant colleagues. But it’s time for a change."

Speaking about the incoming changes to Newsnight, former presenter Emily Maitlis, who stood down last year, said she was concerned that “extraordinary and exceptional journalism” would be lost. Emily said the Prince Andrew interview she conducted - which has been documented in new Netflix series Scoop - could not have happened under the new format.

“Of course there will still be interviews and debates and the theme music will carry on,” Emily wrote on X. “But once the bosses send out a signal they don’t really *care* about a flagship investigative news programme – the guests and the audience start to wonder why they should … ”

Following Mark Urban's departure announcement, a number of BBC stars shared their sadness at his exit. "It's our loss," replied chef Nigella Lawson.

TV producer Sam McAllister, who is played on screen by Billie Piper in Scoop, responded: "Welcome to the outside, my friend. Thank you for always being such a brilliant correspondent of course, but such a cool, calm, clever colleague, who was always kind and had time for producers. And of course, a brilliant acerbic wit xxx"

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