The Conversation (0)
Kate Plummer
Feb 22, 2022
Emily Maitlis sums up nation's mood over Dominic Cummings in Newsnight intro
Independent
Emily Maitlis is leaving the BBC to start a podcast.
Newsnight presenter Maitlis announced she is leaving the broadcaster after almost 20 years with fellow correspondent Jon Sopel who will also be involved in the podcast, hosted by Global.
"It’s an amazing opportunity to do something we all love, and we are so thrilled Global is giving us this opportunity to be big and ambitious with this project," she said.
“Nevertheless, it will be a wrench to leave the BBC after 20 phenomenal years. I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had there.
“More than anything I’m grateful to have worked with the most incredible people – many of whom are dear friends. I owe my BBC colleagues everything.”
Maitlis joined Newsnight in 2006 and is best known for her interview with Prince Andrew in 2019 which saw her win the Network Presenter of the Year award at the RTS Television Journalism Awards in 2020.
She has also faced calls to apologise for supposed breaches of BBC impartiality rules and delivered a number of succinct monologues explaining political news about everything from Boris Johnson's flat refurbishment scandal to Dominic Cummings' Barnard Castle saga.
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Meanwhile, Sopel joined the BBC in 1983. He was the one-time chief political correspondent for BBC News 24 and, in 2005, replaced Jeremy Vine as the lead presenter of The Politics Show on BBC One.
Speaking about his new appointment alongside Maitlis on Global, Sopel tweeted: “We’re excited to be working with them on this innovative project. Opportunities like this just don’t come along very often. But am sad to leave the BBC which has been home for so long.”
He continued: “Of course, it will be a wrench to leave the BBC after nearly 4 decades, and have loved my time there – partic the last seven years as North America Editor.
“I leave with nothing but good feelings towards the Corporation, and wish all the best to my colleagues and friends there.”
Here's how people have reacted to the news:
Big loss for the BBC-& big changes ahead for Newsnight potentially?https://twitter.com/maitlis/status/1496106330985316355\u00a0\u2026— gabyhinsliff (@gabyhinsliff) 1645535553
Fine, I\u2019ll host Newsnight, but I won\u2019t enjoy it— Mollie Goodfellow (@Mollie Goodfellow) 1645536847
What a loss to the BBC Americast one of the very best podcasts thanks to the expertise & chemistry between these two. Whatever they\u2019re working on it\u2019ll be worth a listen.https://twitter.com/maitlis/status/1496106330985316355\u00a0\u2026— Mark Gallagher (@Mark Gallagher) 1645537976
Wow! Congratulations, Emily!— Hadley Freeman (@Hadley Freeman) 1645534937
Very sad to see Emily Maitlis leaving the BBChttps://twitter.com/maitlis/status/1496106726533353476\u00a0\u2026— Rachel Wearmouth (@Rachel Wearmouth) 1645536822
Big loss for the BBC. \nEmily @maitlis is an all-time journo personal hero. Not many better interviewers around\u2026https://twitter.com/maitlis/status/1496106726533353476\u00a0\u2026— Manish Pandey (@Manish Pandey) 1645535453
Congrats @maitlis & @jonsopel - big loss for the Beeb and a coup for Globalhttps://twitter.com/maitlis/status/1496106330985316355\u00a0\u2026— Cathy Newman (@Cathy Newman) 1645536159
Blimey, Jon Sopel (who was favourite for the political editor job) and Emily Maitlis are leaving the BBC.https://twitter.com/BBCJonSopel/status/1496106095462473729?s=20&t=iJyCm5OGjU2im6oSM6-rFQ\u00a0\u2026— Jake Kanter (@Jake Kanter) 1645534879
Congratulations @maitlis and @BBCJonSopel knowing you'll be doing great work with @dinosofos is good news! Looking forward to it. Huge loss to the BBC but great news for journalism in its varied ways.— Hasan Patel (@Hasan Patel) 1645536046
Congrats. You\u2019re both brilliant. It\u2019ll be great.— Emma Kennedy\ud83d\udc99 (@Emma Kennedy\ud83d\udc99) 1645535068
Wow! Congratulations - I can't wait to tune in!— Rosie Wright (@Rosie Wright) 1645535862
Wow. The BBC will miss Emily Maitlishttps://twitter.com/maitlis/status/1496106330985316355\u00a0\u2026— David Garrahy (@David Garrahy) 1645536233
Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel leaving BBC Newspic.twitter.com/pP0zo2kNkU— chawner laughs (@chawner laughs) 1645535256
Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel both off to LBC. Quite an achievement from Global.— Simon Bye \ud83c\udfaa\ud83d\udd36 (@Simon Bye \ud83c\udfaa\ud83d\udd36) 1645535011
Big news in the world of UK political journalism. Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel both announce they are leaving the BBC to start a podcast.— Christopher Hope\ud83d\udcdd (@Christopher Hope\ud83d\udcdd) 1645535050
Can't wait to finally find out what Emily Maitlis's political views are after all these years of scrupulous neutrality— Calgie (@Calgie) 1645535330
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