Neil is named one of many BBC’s most ferocious political interviewers
Broadcaster Andrew Neil has paid tribute to the BBC after asserting he will probably be leaving after 25 years.
The 71-year-old journalist is to grow to be chairman of recent TV channel GB Information, which is because of launch early subsequent 12 months.
He mentioned he was leaving the BBC, the place he has introduced exhibits akin to Every day Politics and helped entrance its election protection, with a “heavy coronary heart”.
The BBC mentioned he had “knowledgeable and entertained hundreds of thousands of viewers” through the years.
Neil’s final look for the BBC will probably be in early November when he’ll assist lead its protection of the US presidential election.
The previous Sunday Occasions editor has been on the coronary heart of the BBC’s political protection for the very best a part of three a long time.
In addition to presenting Every day Politics and its successor Politics Dwell, he was the host of the favored late-night dialogue present This Week for a few years.
- Andrew Neil Present ends as BBC Information unveils cuts
His penetrating and infrequently combative normal election interviews with get together political leaders gained him broad important acclaim.
Earlier this 12 months, the BBC mentioned the weekly Andrew Neil Interview present, which had been broadcast since 2019, wouldn’t be recommissioned nevertheless it was in dialogue with him about different codecs.
Asserting his departure, Neil mentioned these discussions had not come to fruition and he had determined to take the position of chair of GB Information, the place he can even host a day by day present.
“With heavy coronary heart I announce I will probably be leaving the BBC,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Regardless of sterling efforts by new DG (director normal) to give you different programming alternatives, it couldn’t fairly restore injury accomplished when Andrew Neil Present cancelled early summer season.”
He thanked everybody who had helped him throughout his time on the BBC, describing them because the “better of the very best” and saying the company “will at all times been particular to me”.
In an announcement, the BBC mentioned it wish to give its “heartfelt thanks” to Neil, describing him as a “formidable and proficient broadcaster”.
“For years, he was on the coronary heart of the irreverent and much-loved This Week and performed a key position within the Every day and Sunday Politics, Politics Dwell and the BBC’s normal election protection,” it mentioned.
“We’re sorry the US election protection will probably be his final BBC presentation for the foreseeable future however he’ll at all times be welcome on the BBC.”