Clive Myrie and Laura Kuenssberg to guide BBC’s election evening protection
Clive Myrie and Laura Kuenssberg will replace Huw Edwards to lead the BBC‘s election night coverage, as the newsreader admits it was ‘weird’ reporting on his colleague’s scandal.
Former political editor Kuenssberg, 47, and prominent news anchor Myrie, 59, jointly take over the role from Edwards, who left the BBC in April following a scandal involving alleged payments for sexual images.
Kuenssberg will become the first ever female election night anchor for the BBC, and will be joined on the programme by the current political editor Chris Mason.
It comes as Myrie has revealed how he felt ‘weird’ when reporting on the scandal surrounding Edwards.
Speaking to Radio Times, he said: ‘When you end up doing a story that involves you reporting on your colleagues, it’s weird.
‘That’s actually the best description. It’s just weird.
‘Because you’re not usually there to be talking about the staff in your newsroom.’
Laura Kuenssberg, 47, is the former Political Editor at the BBC and now hosts a Sunday morning politics programme
Clive Myrie, 59, who also hosts Mastermind, will join Kuenssberg as they host the night’s election coverage
Nick Robinson and Rachel Burden will host the corporation’s radio coverage with Henry Zeffman on BBC Radio 4 and 5 Live.
The programme will be broadcast throughout the night of the election on July 4.
Also appearing on the programme are BBC stalwarts including Fiona Bruce, Victoria Derbyshire, Reeta Chakrabarti and Jeremy Vine, whose swingometer will make a reprisal, it is understood.
Sophie Raworth and Jon Kay will take over presenting duties on Friday morning, with deputy political editor alongside them.
There will be separate programmes hosted in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales will be hosted by Martin Geissler, Mark Carruthers and Nick Servini respectively.
CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness said: ‘In this election, we have one thing on our minds above all else – the voters.
‘Throughout the campaign we’ll be giving them the facts and information they need to make up their own minds.
‘We know the way people are consuming news is changing; we’ll have the most comprehensive ever offer across every platform, so we can be where people are.
‘And once the ballots are cast, a truly fantastic line-up of journalistic talent, headed by Laura and Clive, will bring voters the results and help make sense of them.
‘We’ve assembled a fresh, dynamic team to bring insight, experience – and perhaps a little wit – to audiences for the whole election night and beyond.
‘It’s incredible to have such breadth and depth of expertise to call upon, up and down the country, when it matters most.’
After David Dimbleby’s departure from the election night hot seat, Huw Edwards took over in 2019.
The BBC announced its coverage plans on Tuesday, around five weeks before the day of the election
Laura Kuenssberg had been widely tipped to replace Huw Edwards as the BBC’s election night host
The shadow of the Huw Edwards scandal will hang over the BBC’s election coverage this year through his marked absence
Emily Maitlis has already been confirmed as the face of Channel 4’s general election coverage
Channel 4’s eclectic line-up for its general election coverage will feature (pictured left to right) Cathy Newman, Rory Stewart, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Emily Maitlis, Alastair Campbell and Clare Balding
Kay Burley will lead Sky News’ coverage of election night – she usually hosts the channel’s early morning breakfast programme
But after leading the UK through some of its most challenging moments in recent history, including the death of the Queen in 2022, he was suspended last July following accusations he had paid a young person for sexual images.
In April, his departure was confirmed from the BBC.
Tuesday’s announcement comes after Sky News declared its line-up earlier this month.
Kay Burley, 63, will take the lead on the show from a 360-degree immersive studio normally used by Sky Sports shows like Monday Night Football.
Burley, who will be covering her 12th general election, will be joined by political editor Beth Rigby, Sir Trevor Phillips and data and economics editor Ed Conway.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, will join former Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Baroness Ruth Davidson, to provide guest analysis.
Channel 4 has confirmed Emily Maitlis will be leading their coverage after her departure from the BBC.
Maitlis, 53, will present the election special alongside Channel 4 News presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
The former newsreader joins a eclectic line-up of presenters including BBC Sport presenter Clare Balding and political analyst Rory Stewart.
Maitlis revealed she was leaving the BBC in 2022 and now co-hosts The News Agents podcast alongside Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall.
