Alastair Stewart, who cemented his broadcasting career as a newsreader for ITV, has confirmed he will be retiring from a permanent role.
The journalist is Britain's longest-serving newsreader, having presented the news on both local and national television for more than 45 years.
After stepping down from ITV, he joined GB News two years ago before its launch. He was their newsreader on air to announce the Queen’s death, leading the subsequent coverage and anchoring the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year on the channel.
In a statement, he announced: "I’m nearly 71 and I still get the most tremendous lift from live television – it’s the best job in the world."
"However, the rigours of preparing for two live interview shows a week, and commuting from Hampshire to London for them, are considerable," he continued.
"I want to reduce my commitment while I’m still ahead as an old broadcaster, rather than an ancient one.
"Thankfully the timing is mine; I just want to spend more of it with my family, my horses, and the charities that have meant so much to me over the years."
He continued: “It’s been a privilege to complete my regular broadcasting career with a sparky start-up like GB News that’s challenging the traditional moulds I’ve known for so long.
“It’s kept me on my toes, taught me new tricks, but above all GB News has liberated me. I’ve had the freedom to cover the stories I’m passionate about, interview the people I want, and to offer my perspective more freely than I’ve been allowed to in the past."
“I’m grateful to everyone at GB News, but also to all the fabulous colleagues I’ve known throughout these many years. Quite simply, I couldn’t have done any of it without them,” Alastair added.
Alastair was one of the main newsreaders at ITV News for more than 35 years, anchoring News at Ten and providing commentary for special programmes such as Royal Weddings, elections, budgets, and State Openings of Parliament.
He reported live from the 1980s miners’ strike, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the first Gulf War from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and was the first British journalist to cover the liberation of Kuwait.
Chief Executive Officer Angelos Frangopoulos commented: “Alastair is a legendary broadcaster whose contribution to this industry has been virtually unmatched.
“His immense generosity in mentoring journalists at GB News has ensured his legacy will endure for the next generation of broadcasters. We can’t thank him enough and we wish him a long and happy retirement – he’s certainly earned it.”
