Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel (Global/PA)
(Picture: Global)Broadcasters Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel have announced they are leaving the BBC.
The pair will join media group Global to front a podcast and co-host a radio show on LBC. They will also provide commentary and analysis for the station's website.
Maitlis joined the BBC in 2001 and has presented Newsnight since 2006, winning a Royal Television Society award for her infamous interview with Prince Andrew in 2019 , while Sopel joined the broadcaster in 1983 and was formerly its North America editor.
The pair also host the BBC's popular Americast podcast about US politics.
Announcing her departure from the BBC on Twitter, Maitlis said: “It’s an amazing opportunity to do something we all love, and we are so thrilled Global is giving us this opportunity to be big and ambitious with this project.”
She added: “Nevertheless, it will be a wrench to leave the BBC after 20 phenomenal years. I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had there. More than anything I’m grateful to have worked with the most incredible people - many of whom are dear friends. I owe my BBC colleagues everything.”
"We are just so delighted to be launching this brand new podcast - which will build on everything we've achieved with Americast over the last few years - and it will find new audiences and a new home with Global. I couldn't be more excited,” she went on.
Sopel said: "I'm delighted to be joining Global with my great friend and colleague, Emily Maitlis. We've been blown away by the reception for Americast, and are so excited that Global has given us the opportunity to build on this success by creating this innovative news podcast.
"This is an unmissable opportunity."
Sopel added on Twitter that he was "sad to leave the BBC which has been home for so long".
The deal will also see Dino Sofos, founder of audio production company Persephonica, join Global as their new podcast's executive producer.
Sofos is the former head of BBC News Podcasts and created the Brexitcast, Newscast and Americast formats.
Founder and executive president of Global Ashley Tabor-King said: "Emily and Jon are world-class broadcasters and journalists, and it's an incredibly exciting time to be welcoming them to the Global family.
"LBC has seen record-breaking growth, there's tremendous appetite for visualised shows on Global Player, and original journalism by our teams on lbc.co.uk is in millions of news feeds every month."
