Joanna Gosling became emotional as she signed off from her final BBC News broadcast on Thursday after 23 years by thanking viewers and colleagues.
The 52-year-old Buckinghamshire-born broadcaster is among those who have opted to take voluntary redundancy amid plans for the BBC to merge its international and domestic news channels.
Addressing viewers, she said: “Now it just about time for me to say goodbye for the last time.
“I am signing off after 23 years at BBC News and before I go there are just a few things I wanted to say. I know this job is personal.
“We come directly into you home to tell you what is happening - good, bad, funny, sad. And in doing my work I always consider how you might be responding to the news you are hearing and what you might want to know.
A moving farewell from @BBCJoannaG pic.twitter.com/TrjaibyJwo
— SharonBarbourBBC (@SharonBarbour) January 26, 2023
“But your response to me leaving has been completely unexpected and I have been really touched by the wave of warmth and kindness from you, and I want to say thank you for all of your good wishes. It really has meant a lot to me.”
Gosling also thanked those who had shared their stories with her as well as her colleagues “past and present”.
She added: “I have learned from you, I have loved working with you and I have valued your support since I started out at 22.
“I have never failed to be impressed by the talent, skills and dedication of the people around me. We are a team, but it has felt like family.”
Concluding to applause from inside the studio, she added: “Lucky me to have had this great job that has never felt like a job. Thank you for having me.”
The BBC announced in July that BBC News and BBC World News are to merge to create a single 24-hour TV channel, resulting in job losses, as part of its new digital-first strategy.
David Eades and Tim Willcox are also among those leaving the corporation.
Earlier this month Gosling confirmed her departure from the BBC.
She tweeted: “You may have already heard, but I wanted to confirm, that I have decided to leave the BBC and will go off air on the 26th January.
“I am very grateful for the kind messages I’ve had from so many of you. I’m proud of my career in news. Now it is time for new beginnings.”
Gosling worked for Sky News before joining the BBC.
She is an accredited mediator and also published her first book, Simply Wonderwoman, in 2011 as a strategy for women coping with busy lives.
