Newsnight’s longest-serving presenter Kirsty Wark to step down after 30 years

Wark presented BBC’s flagship news programme for 30 years

BBCNewsnight’s longest-serving presenter, Kirsty Wark, is stepping down from the programme after the next UK election.

The broadcaster announced the news on Thursday (19 October), clarifying that the 68-year-old will continue to present BBC shows including The Reunion, Start The Week on Radio 4, as well as documentaries.

“It is an enormous privilege to be involved in such a rigorous, creative programme with a wonderful, talented bunch of colleagues,” Wark said in a statement.

“There’s not a day when I don’t look forward to coming to the office, and every day I learn something from the team about all manner of things, from aspects of American foreign policy to how to make a great mojito.”

The Scottish presenter has reported on eight prime ministers along with interviewing arts figures such as the playwright Harold Pinter in 2006.

Wark conducted an interview with Lord Macpherson following his inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, and in America interviewed victims of Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro.

She also reported and presented from Scotland after the 1996 Dunblane massacre, when gunman Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 children and their teacher in the village primary school before turning the gun on himself.

Kirsty Wark (Getty Images)

BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Generations of Newsnight viewers have benefitted from Kirsty’s authority, her razor-sharp insight and her journalistic flair. She sets the standard for engaging yet authoritative presenting. I speak on behalf of the whole BBC when I thank her for the past 30 years.

“I’m delighted the BBC is not losing Kirsty altogether when she steps back from Newsnight and look forward to seeing and hearing her beyond the busy political year ahead.”

During Thursday’s episode of Newsnight, presenter Mark Urban paid tribute to Wark and said: “Kirsty has allowed me to read this last little bit, mainly because it’s about her and she’s far too modest to do it.”

He added that her leaving was “our loss” and for him “it’s been a pleasure” ahead of a montage of her on the programme over the years being aired.

The clips included coverage of the peace process in Northern Ireland, former chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Yasser Arafat travelling abroad and rebellions in the Conservative Party in the 1990s.

The news follows reported claims of Newsnight facing financial cuts and the departure of its editor Mr Maclean to become BBC World News Content’s Africa bureau chief in Nairobi.

While sharing images of a cake featuring a depiction of Wark and balloons in the shape of the numbers three and zero, on X/Twitter, Mr Maclean wrote that working with her was an “absolute joy”.

He also wrote: “Kirsty’s announced that she’ll step down from Newsnight after the next election. We’ll miss her massively when she does.

“Kirsty’s been central to so much of the programme’s coverage over the last three decades, but still bounds into the office each day with the energy and enthusiasm of someone arriving for their very first shift.”

According to the BBC’s latest annual report, Wark earned £280,000-£284,999 in the 2022/23 year.

She has also made documentaries on social media and its impact on young female mental health, the menopause, stately homes and pioneering Scottish women – along with a Newsnight special for the NHS’s 75th anniversary which asked if the health service is “fit for the future”.

Her former Newsnight colleague, Lewis Goodall, wrote on X: “She doesn’t need me to say it but KirstyWark is simply one of the v best TV presenters in history and a trailblazer at that.

“Also prob the nicest person I’ve ever worked with, never cynical, fizzing with ideas every day, putting colleagues 35 years younger to shame. What a run.”

On X, Victoria Derbyshire hailed Wark as an “incredible journalist” and “legend” while diplomatic editor Mark Urban said her decision to go would “leave a great gap”.

Urban also wrote: “She’s always been enthusiastic, inquiring, clear sighted in the face of spin and full of integrity. And we’ve had quite a few laughs along the way too!”

Additional reporting by PA