BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty has paid an emotional tribute to her colleague Stephen Smith after he announced his departure from BBC Newsnight. Taking to social media, Munchetty described Smith as a 'bloody decent person' and one of the best creative wordsmiths and journalists she has ever worked with.
Smith, who served as Newsnight's Culture correspondent, announced his exit from the broadcaster in a statement on social media. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet influential figures in arts and culture, from Scorsese to Stormzy, and thanked the producers, camera crews, and picture editors he worked with.
Following Smith's announcement, colleagues and followers flocked to wish him well. Radio 4's Evan Davis praised Smith as 'one of a kind', while BBC health reporter Jim Reed noted that some of the best packages he had ever seen on Newsnight were produced by Smith.
This tribute comes after Munchetty was left flustered during a live BBC Breakfast interview with singer Lewis Capaldi, who made a racy joke. Capaldi later explained on Twitter that there was a 'classic breakdown of communication' during the interview.
