OHMYGOSSIP — Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel are leaving the BBC to host an “ambitious” podcast together.
The BBC News veterans have joined forces for a deal with LBC radio’s parent company Global on an unnamed project, and Emily – who previously worked with Jon on the BBC Sounds podcast ‘Americast’ over the 2020 US Presidential election – labelled it a “major podcast”.
On Twitter, the 51-year-old journalist – who has worked at BBC for nearly 20 years and landed an array of awards for her 2019 bombshell interview with Prince Andrew over his association with convicted sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein – gushed how she and Jon “are so thrilled Global is giving us this opportunity to be big and ambitious with this project”.
Jon – who is coming back to London after his posting in the US – tweeted: “Opportunities like this just don’t come along very often. But am sad to leave the BBC which has been home for so long.”
The 62-year-old journalist labelled it “a wrench” to be leaving the corporation after nearly four decades working there.
He said: “I leave with nothing but good feelings towards the Corporation, and wish all the best to my colleagues and friends there.”
James Rea, Global’s director of broadcasting and content, called the duo “brilliant journalists” and enthused about working with them.
He said: “They are both brilliant journalists and presenters and I know we’re going to build something hugely exciting together.”
The interim director of BBC News, Jonathan Munro, expressed his gratitude to Jon and Emily “for their many years of sterling service”.
He said: “We’d like to thank both Emily and Jon for their many years of sterling service to the BBC and wish them the very best in their new endeavours at Global.”
The pair are the latest big names to depart the BBC for Global, as Andrew Marr did so at the end of last year.
Source: VacationHunter.Online