BBC star announces she’s leaving after 26 years on air

MISHAL Husain has announced she is leaving the BBC after 26 years on air.

Mishal, 51, who will depart in the New Year, has been a presenter on the Today programme for the last eleven years and hosts The Today Debate.

She also notably moderated the recent BBC UK general election debates.

Mishal said of her exit, “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.

“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.”

Owenna Griffiths, Editor of Today, added, “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.”

Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, 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.

“I very much hope the BBC and Mishal will get the chance to work together again one day.”

Mohit Bakaya, Director of Speech and Controller of BBC Radio 4, 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 in 1998 as a producer.

She then transitioned to presenting on BBC World News in 2001, covering stories from diverse locations including the US, the Middle East, South Asia, Singapore, and China.

In 2014, Mishal made history as the first reporter to enter the school attacked by the Taliban in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Two years later, she gained global attention for her 2017 engagement interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Since 2013, Mishal has been a member of the Today Programme team on BBC Radio 4.

She has fronted BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten too.

Mishal’s TV documentaries encompass a three-part series on Mahatma Gandhi.

She has also made documentaries on the Arab uprisings of 2011, Malala Yousafzai, and Queen Elizabeth II.

Mishal was live on air on Radio 4 when the announcement of Her Majesty’s passing was made.

She presented from outside Westminster Abbey for the radio coverage of the funeral. She also reported on the King’s coronation the following year.

Her work has been recognized with numerous accolades.

In 2023, she was named the Voice of the Viewer and Listener ‘Best Contributor to Audio.’

She hosted two election debates for the BBC during the 2024 election campaign, featuring key political figures like Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.

This year, she was awarded the London Press Club’s ‘Broadcaster of the Year’ and, earlier this month, the Charles Wheeler Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Journalism.

It follows a report from The Times that she had handed in her notice on Friday.

There were reportedly 18 months of discussion before the decision was made.

An insider told the publication: “After 11 years Mishal has reached the point where the 3.30am alarm call is no longer a welcome noise.”

“She is very highly thought of and there will be an extremely big effort to make sure she’s accommodated well elsewhere,” they added.

Mishal previously implied that she had thought about leaving.

She told The Sunday Times earlier this year: “I’m wondering what the next act of my career might look like.”