Today presenter Mishal Husain to leave BBC in new year

Mishal Husain, a well-known presenter of the Today programme and one of the most prominent news journalists at the BBC, has announced that she will be departing from the organization to take on a new position at Bloomberg.

Since 2013, Husain has been the host of the main morning radio program, earning acclaim for her composed yet thorough approach to interviews. Over her 25-year tenure at the BBC, she has established herself as a prominent figure in BBC news, facilitating numerous general election debates and playing significant roles during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth and the coronation of King Charles.

According to Bloomberg, she is departing to lead an innovative global interview series that will be available across multiple platforms. Additionally, she will take on the role of editor-at-large for the Weekend Edition.

Husain shared, "My experience at the BBC has been filled with unforgettable experiences, allowing me to visit places I probably would never have explored otherwise. I've had the chance to witness significant events and engage in live, national discussions on Radio 4."

"I will forever appreciate the chances the BBC provided me, and I wish the organization and everyone involved the very best in the future."

Owenna Griffiths, the editor of the Today programme, praised her as “an outstanding journalist and exceptional presenter,” as well as “a very kind and considerate coworker.”

"I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to collaborate with her. Along with the Today team, I will deeply miss her but wish her nothing but success in her new journey," she expressed.

Husain's move to a competing company comes after the departures of Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, and Lewis Goodall to LBC and the Newsagents podcast in 2022. This news arrives just weeks after the BBC chose not to renew Gary Lineker’s contract for Match of the Day due to budget pressures affecting both the licence fee and high-profile salaries.

Husain, who is 51 years old, was born in Northampton to Pakistani parents who had settled in Britain. She spent time living in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia before coming back to continue her education in the UK. In 1998, she started her career at the BBC after working at Bloomberg, where she initially reported on business news for BBC World News and the BBC News Channel.

She shared on X: "I owe a lot to the BBC. I grew up in a region where unbiased news was hard to find, and the World Service became our companion. When BBC World started, I never thought I would one day work there, much less be a presenter."

David Merritt, Bloomberg's media editorial leader, commented, "Mishal stands out as one of the top news broadcasters and journalists in the UK, and her sharp yet impartial interviewing technique is acknowledged around the world. Mishal began her television career here at Bloomberg, and we're thrilled to have her return for this exciting new international venture."