Martha Kearney, 66, will step down from BBC Today present after election

Martha Kearney is to step down from presenting BBC Radio 4’s Today programme after the following General Election – as she says she ‘will not miss the 3am alarm’. 

The veteran journalist, 66, has been presenting the Today present for the final six years after becoming a member of the BBC in 1988. 

After the election, Martha will proceed engaged on quite a lot of tasks, together with Open Country and is about to entrance a brand new interview collection celebrating the pure world referred to as This Natural Life.  

The present will deal with every friends’ ardour for nature. 

In an announcement, she stated: ‘I’ve liked engaged on Today with its unimaginable attain and affect however now it is time to transfer on to pastures new – actually. 

Martha Kearney has been presenting the Today present for the final six years

The 66-year-old journalist is about to entrance a brand new interview present referred to as This Natural Life

Martha joined the BBC in 1988 after working in LBC as a cellphone operator

‘I’m actually trying ahead to sharing my ardour for nature in an thrilling new collection in addition to a much-loved favorite programme. And I will not be lacking that 3am alarm name.’

BBC Director-General, Tim Davie, stated: ‘Martha has been an excellent Today presenter, due to her hallmark incisive questioning, heat, and reference to the viewers. 

‘She is an immensely revered and in style journalist, and I’d prefer to thank her on behalf of the BBC and her tens of millions of listeners.

‘I’m delighted Martha’s illustrious BBC profession will proceed on Radio 4 – giving listeners excellent programming past the election.’

Director of Speech and Controller of BBC Radio 4, Mohit Bakaya, stated: ‘Martha is a superb journalist and presenter, who has navigated us via necessary information tales through the years, and led Radio 4’s protection for important nationwide occasions, together with the Queen’s funeral and King’s coronation. 

‘I’m delighted that she is staying with Radio 4, bringing her appreciable data, ardour and expertise of the pure world to Open Country and our thrilling new interview present, This Natural Life.’

Editor of Today, Owenna Griffiths, stated: ‘It’s been my nice privilege to be Martha’s editor each at The World at One and Today. 

Martha Kearney was additionally the political editor of Newsnight for seven years

Martha beforehand stated s**t on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme

‘She’s a journalist with nice tenacity, perception and a splendidly broad vary of pursuits. Above all she’s a heat and beneficiant colleague who might be missed by me and the staff.’

Last month, the radio presenter stated the phrase ‘s**t’ stay on air earlier than 7am after her colleague Mishal Husain used the curse phrase seven instances in a single minute whereas grilling the Home Secretary.

Martha dropped the s-word whereas discussing a report about Husain’s use of the swear phrase throughout a troublesome interview with James Cleverly over his personal use of unhealthy language. 

The BBC permits swearing when ‘editorially justified’. It is probably going the phrase ‘s**t’ was thought-about tolerable by the company as a result of it was quoting a politician in a narrative the place his alternative of language was a problem of controversy.

Back in 2014, when she was presenting Radio 4’s World at One, admitted air that her normally calm manner had given approach to a match of street rage on her every day commute.

The presenter, who would leaves her Fulham house at 6.30am to cycle to the BBC’s Broadcasting House when she was the presenter of the World at One, stated: ‘This morning, I ended up in a road rage incident with another very self-righteous cyclist and we ended up swearing at each other in very un-Radio 4 like language.’ 

Martha began her radio profession at LBC as a cellphone operator earlier than she joined the BBC’s On The Record in 1988. 

Veteran journalist Martha Kearney, 66, has been presenting the Today present for the final six years after becoming a member of the BBC in 1988.

Ms Kearney with Liz Truss on the journalist’s Bees Garden Party in July 2015

Ms Kearney pictured in 1998

Before she joined the Today programme, she was the primary lady presenter of Radio 4’s The World at One which she hosted for over a decade.

Martha was additionally the political editor of Newsnight for seven years. Throughout her profession she has interviewed prime ministers from Margaret Thatcher to Rishi Sunak in addition to masking a number of US elections. 

She was additionally a daily host of Woman’s Hour from 1998 to 2007. 

The veteran broadcast journalist has gained a number of awards together with TRIC radio presenter of the yr, Political Commentator of the Year, a BAFTA nomination for her protection of Northern Ireland and Best Individual Contribution to Radio awarded by the Voice of The Listener and Viewer.