BBC Newsnight star quits after 35 years with moving statement

BBC Newsnight's diplomatic editor, Mark Urban, has taken to social media to announce his resignation from the network after 35 years as he announced it was 'time for a change.'

The drastic announcement follows an unsettling period within the Newsnight team with changes being proposed in November indicating a shift to a scaled-back format focusing on 'interview, debate and discussion' while phasing out their renowned investigative reports.

These alterations will also see the staff count reduced drastically from 57 to 23 with running times being cut by 30 minutes as a part of ongoing cost savings at the broadcaster, the Mirror reports.

Urban decided not to seek other roles within the BBC in light of the impending upheaval, stating: "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."

This shock departure comes only a year after Kirsty Wark, Newsnight's longest-serving presenter, announced she would be stepping down from her role too.

Speaking about the upcoming changes to Newsnight, former presenter Emily Maitlis, who stepped down last year, expressed her worries that "extraordinary and exceptional journalism" would be lost due to the cutbacks.

Emily suggested that her famous interview with Prince Andrew - now documented in the new Netflix series Scoop - wouldn't have been possible under the new format.

Taking to X, Emily wrote: "Of course there will still be interviews and debates and the theme music will carry on. 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 ... ".

Expressing his disappointment at the time of the announcements, Mark stated: "I have worked on the programme for 32 years, around the world, risking my life many times for its journalism. You can well imagine my feelings at cuts to our staff and budget of more than 50%."

Following the announcement of his departure, several BBC stars responded to Mark's post expressing their sadness at his exit.

TV chef Nigella Lawson replied: "It's our loss."

TV producer Sam McAllister, portrayed on screen by Billie Piper in Scoop, bid farewell to her former colleague after working alongside him on Newsnight.

She wrote: "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".

Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, has attributed the broadcaster's cost-saving measures to the effects of inflation and a stagnant licence fee.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme last November, Turness revealed that the BBC was grappling with a £500m funding gap, and news had to 'carry its share.'

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