Legendary BBC newsreader Mishal Husain has announced she is quitting after 26 years.
The 51-year-old presenter, who joined the BBC back in 1998, has fronted Radio 4’s Today programme for the last eleven years. Mishal also moderated the recent BBC UK general election debates featuring PM Keir Starmer and former Tory leader Rishi Sunak.
She has also presented the BBC News at Six and Ten as well as its news channels and was previously a presenter on BBC World News. Mishal has now revealed that she is leaving the BBC but has said she will “always be grateful” to the organisation.
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In a statement, Mishal said: “My time at the BBC has involved many memorable moments, going to places I would never otherwise have seen, witnessing history and being part of live, national conversation on Radio 4.
(Image: BBC)
“I will always be grateful for the opportunities the BBC gave me, and wish the organisation and everyone who is part of it the very best.”
Mishal is joining Bloomberg in early 2025 to host a new interview series and be editor-at-large of its Weekend Edition. In a statement issued by Bloomberg, she said: “I am delighted to be fronting a new interview show that will reach audiences in different formats as part of the exciting plans for Bloomberg Weekend Edition.
(Image: PA)
“Ours is an ever more complex world but the desire for thoughtful conversations crosses all borders. I look forward to working with a new team at Bloomberg – the place which gave me my first job in journalism.”
Owenna Griffiths, Editor of Today, praised Mishal’s BBC career, saying: “Mishal is not only a formidable journalist and first-rate presenter, she is an extremely generous and thoughtful colleague. It has been my great privilege to work alongside her and, along with the Today team, I’ll miss her enormously but wish her all the very best in her new venture.”
The CEO of BBC News, Deborah Turness, said: “Mishal leaves the BBC with an incredible journalistic legacy. After more than a decade on the Today programme, she is going with our gratitude and affection, and we wish her the best of luck in her new chapter.
(Image: BBC)
“I very much hope the BBC and Mishal will get the chance to work together again one day.”
Radio 4’s Director of Speech and Controller, Mohit Bakaya, said, “Mishal’s calm, yet forensic, interviewing style has been one of the standout features of her time on the Today programme. She is a brilliant journalist with a broad intellectual hinterland.
“Radio 4 listeners have been waking up to her warm and trusted voice for more than a decade, and we respect her decision to set the alarm clock to a different hour. She’ll be greatly missed, but we wish her all the best with what comes next.”
Mishal began her BBC career as a producer in 1998 before becoming a presenter on BBC World News. She joined the Today programme in 2013.
Mishal famously interviewed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2017 and covered huge moments, such as Her Majesty’s passing and funeral.
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