In a major shake-up for British broadcast journalism, award-winning presenter Cathy Newman has announced her departure from Channel 4 News after two decades. The veteran journalist revealed she is making a high-profile switch to rival broadcaster Sky News.
A New Chapter at Sky News
Newman, who first joined Channel 4 News as a political correspondent in January 2006, confirmed she will be hosting a brand new daily politics show on Sky News. The programme is set to air each weekday evening at 7pm. Her expanded role will also involve launching a new podcast and working on documentary projects for Sky.
Announcing the move on her social media channels, Newman expressed her excitement. "I’m thrilled to be joining the incredible, multi-award-winning @skynews team," she wrote. "There couldn’t be a more exhilarating time to return to Westminster, and I’m hugely looking forward to bringing in exclusive interviews and investigations on a brand new programme."
Farewell to Channel 4
Reflecting on her long tenure at Channel 4, Newman paid tribute to her colleagues. "It’s been a total privilege working on @channel4news for exactly two decades," she stated. "I’ll miss my talented Channel 4 News colleagues enormously, but as Mary Shelley once wrote: ‘the beginning is always today’. And I can’t wait to begin again."
During her 20-year career at the broadcaster, Newman covered some of the biggest political stories of the era. Her notable work includes:
- The headline-making interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson.
- A significant investigation into sexual harassment within Westminster.
- Extensive coverage of the John Smyth QC abuse investigation.
Industry Reaction and Sky's Vision
The news prompted swift reaction from across the media industry. Piers Morgan commented on the move, calling it a "Big transfer" and offering his congratulations. Sky News correspondent Jon Craig and journalist Ed Conway were among others welcoming her to the network.
Sky News officially welcomed Newman with a social media post stating: "@cathynewman is joining Sky News! The award-winning journalist will lead our flagship daily politics programme, launch a brand-new podcast, and deliver powerful investigations and documentaries."
In a promotional video, Newman addressed viewers directly: "Hi everyone, I'm Cathy. I'm thrilled to be joining Sky News with a brand new programme, packed with exclusives. I love the drama of politics, the outside personalities, the huge decisions that affect us all. But, I also love big stories so I'm gonna be sniffing them out in Westminster and far beyond."
David Rhodes, Executive Chairman of Sky News, highlighted the significance of the appointment. "Cathy has broken some of Britain’s biggest stories and brings a clear, engaging style that audiences trust and we’re delighted to welcome her to Sky News," he said. "Our future plan requires just the kind of premium investigative and political expertise that Cathy will bring to our team."
The move marks one of the most prominent on-air transfers in UK broadcast news in recent years and signals Sky News's intent to bolster its evening political output with a seasoned and recognisable journalist.
