Mishal Husain, a prominent BBC journalist, is set to leave the Radio 4 Today programme in the New Year to join Bloomberg. After 11 years as a co-presenter on the flagship morning show, Husain will transition to hosting a new interview series and serve as editor-at-large of Bloomberg’s Weekend Edition.
The 51-year-old journalist, who joined the BBC in 1998, has had a distinguished career spanning multiple news platforms. She has presented the BBC News at Six and Ten, worked on news channels, and notably fronted the UK general election debates on BBC One.
Reflecting on her BBC tenure, Husain expressed gratitude for the opportunities she’s had, describing her career as involving “memorable moments” and witnessing historical events. Her journalistic journey began at Bloomberg Television in the 1990s before she joined the BBC.
Throughout her career, Husain has covered significant global events and conducted high-profile interviews. She reported from various countries, including the US and Pakistan, and was part of major royal coverage, including interviewing Prince Harry and Meghan after their engagement and covering Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and King Charles’ coronation.
Her professional achievements extend beyond broadcasting. Earlier this year, her book “Broken Threads: My Family From Empire to Independence” became a Sunday Times bestseller, with The Guardian praising her storytelling about her grandparents’ experiences in the new state of Pakistan.
Owenna Griffiths, the Today programme’s editor, described Husain as a “formidable journalist and first-rate presenter” and an “extremely generous and thoughtful colleague.” Her departure is considered a significant loss by many within the BBC.
In the last financial year, Husain earned between £340,000 and £344,999 for approximately 140 shifts presenting Today, 20 days reading news on BBC One, and other projects. She was one of five presenters on the Today programme, alongside Justin Webb, Nick Robinson, Emma Barnett, and Amol Rajan.
Media correspondent Alex Farber noted that her departure has upset some BBC staff, suggesting that the offers made to her were not sufficient to retain her. He speculated about potential replacements, mentioning journalists like Katya Adler, Rachel Burden, and Anushka Asthana.
Husain’s move to Bloomberg brings her career full circle, as the network provided her first job in journalism. She expressed excitement about her new role, emphasizing her desire to engage in “thoughtful conversations” in an increasingly complex world.
Her departure follows Martha Kearney’s exit from the Today programme five months ago, marking another significant change in the program’s lineup.
