BBC FLAGSHIP SHOW IN HUGE PRESENTER SHAKE-UP AS TWO NEW FACES JOIN THE TEAM
The BBC has announced a presenter shake-up as two new faces join one of its long-running flagship programmes. Newsnight has undergone the changes which will see main host Victoria Derbyshire, 56, continue to front the weeknight show every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
However, Radio 4 presenter Paddy O’Connell will present the programme on a Thursday while Radio 5 Live host Matt Chorley will take to the airwaves on Friday.
Former Times Radio host Matt will continue with his duties at the radio station and will remain part of the team of the popular podcast, Americast.
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Both Paddy and Matt have spoken of their joy at joining the programme as its TV ratings continue to rise following a change in format last year, reports The Sun.
Paddy said: “Newsnight is the programme I've watched since I was eighteen and I'm awed to be joining the team growing the audience with the cracking work of Victoria Derbyshire.
"Ten thirty pm is now the breaking news hour for the new world order, and I’ll be there every Thursday in a frenzied news cycle turning to the best guests as we're all looking for answers."
Meanwhile, Matt added: "I'm so excited to be joining Newsnight, a programme with such an incredible history which has been reinvented by Victoria and the brilliant team in the last year.
"If you've ever shouted at the news 'well what does that mean?' the moment you hear that electric guitar of the Newsnight theme, you know you're going to get answers."
He added: "After spending the week skulking about in Westminster, what better way to spend Friday night than passing on all the gossip and intrigue I've picked up, joined by smart, funny and surprising guests?"
Since Kirsty Wark departed the programme last July, both stars have fronted the current affairs show on an ad hoc basis.
They officially start their new roles this month while Newsnight’s Political Editor, Nick Watt, Faisal Islam, and Katie Razzall will still continue to appear on-screen regularly.
Newsnight continues every weeknight on BBC Two at 10:30pm.
2025-05-09T18:38:29Z