Mishal Husain to leave Today programme and BBC in new year
The journalist has spent more than 25 years with the broadcaster.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mishal Husain, one of the presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, will be leaving the corporation in the new year.
The 51-year-old journalist, also a host of The Today Debate and who fronted several 2024 general election debates for the BBC this year, joined the broadcaster more than 25 years ago.
Husain is moving to front a new interview series at financial and data media company Bloomberg, as editor-at-large of Bloomberg Weekend Edition.
She said: “My time at the BBC has involved many memorable moments, going to places I would never otherwise have seen, witnessing history and being part of live, national conversation on Radio 4.
“I will always be grateful for the opportunities the BBC gave me, and wish the organisation and everyone who is part of it the very best.”
Husain first joined the BBC as a producer in 1998, before becoming a presenter on BBC World News in 2001.
She has delivered news reports on BBC News At Ten and BBC News At Six as well as being the BBC journalist to interview the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following their engagement in 2017.
Ours is an ever more complex world but the desire for thoughtful conversations crosses all borders. I look forward to working with a new team at Bloomberg – the place which gave me my first job in journalism
BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness said: “Mishal leaves the BBC with an incredible journalistic legacy. After more than a decade on the Today programme she is going with our gratitude and affection and we wish her the best of luck in her new chapter.
“I very much hope the BBC and Mishal will get the chance to work together again one day.”
Earlier this year, Martha Kearney signed off her final Today programme after six years, as Woman’s Hour host Emma Barnett joined the show.
Since 2013, Husain has been a presenter of the Today Programme.
She has made documentaries on the life of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, the 2011 Arab Spring, the late Queen and Pakistani campaigner Malala Yousafzai.
Husain said: “I am delighted to be fronting a new interview show that will reach audiences in different formats as part of the exciting plans for Bloomberg Weekend Edition.
“Ours is an ever more complex world but the desire for thoughtful conversations crosses all borders. I look forward to working with a new team at Bloomberg – the place which gave me my first job in journalism.”
The latest BBC annual report revealed Husain earned between £340,000 and £344,999 during the 2023/24 financial year.
Husain, who has also done stints on BBC News interview show HARDtalk, as well as the corporation’s former Sunday politics programme The Andrew Marr Show, won the best individual contributor to radio at the Voice Of The Listener And Viewer (VLV) ceremony in 2018.
Mishal is not only a formidable journalist and first-rate presenter, she is an extremely generous and thoughtful colleague. It has been my great privilege to work alongside her
She has worked in the US, Middle East, South Asia, Singapore and China, and the BBC said she was the first reporter to enter the school attacked by the Taliban in Peshawar, Pakistan, in 2014.
Husain has also been hailed as the “interviewer politicians dread” by The Guardian after she challenged the Home Secretary James Cleverly over his reported use of a swear word, earlier this year.
Editor of Today, Owenna Griffiths, said: “Mishal is not only a formidable journalist and first-rate presenter, she is an extremely generous and thoughtful colleague.
“It has been my great privilege to work alongside her and, along with the Today team, I’ll miss her enormously but wish her all the very best in her new venture.”