Mishal Husain brought down the curtain on her 26-year career at the BBC with an emotional send-off as she presented her final Today programme this morning.
The Radio 4 presenter, who fronted several 2024 general election debates for the BBC this year, joined the corporation in 1998 and has presented the Today programme for 11 years.
Radio 4 invited former colleagues into the studio and played some of Husain’s career highlights as the BBC paid tribute to their star presenter, once described by The Telegraph as ‘The Today programme’s interrogator in chief’.
Husain and her co-presenters, Nick Robinson and Justin Webb, were joined in the studio by former Today hosts Sarah Montague and John Humphrys, with the latter quizzing the departing star on whether she wanted to leave or if she was ‘made’ to.
In her final message on the show, Husain, who was also joined by her husband, said: ‘The moment is now upon me, time to say farewell to this programme and to the BBC.
‘In my time here, I have found more in me than I knew was there and I journey on to discover what yet might lie within.
‘In the tradition of my faith when people used to go on pilgrimage in generations past, they would not only take their leave of friends and associates, but they would ask for their forgiveness because in those days, many did not return from the arduous journey.
‘I hope therefore you might forgive me for the times I crashed the pips, squeezed the weather, any other dastardly deeds…
‘My heartfelt thanks go to all my BBC colleagues across the UK and around the world and to you, wherever you are listening from, for your time and your trust. On this last morning, I have been allowed music and I am going to leave you with my choice.’
Before The Monkees’ hit Daydream Believer played out at the end of the programme, Husain signed off with: ‘From me, good morning and goodbye.’
Mishal Husain presenter her final Today programme this morning as she leaves the BBC after 26 years
Radio 4 invited former colleagues into the studio and played some of Husain’s career highlights as the BBC paid tribute to their star presenter
Mishal Husain will leave the BBC after a 26-year career when she steps down from the Today programme
Husain joined the BBC as a producer before becoming a presenter on BBC World News in 2001
Although there were several emotional tributes paid by colleagues past and present, Humphrys quizzed Husain on her decision to leave.
In true journalism mode, Humphrys said: ‘Can I ask a difficult question? Did you want to go?
Husain replied: ‘This is when I now regret saying ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to invite John back?’
‘I think it was time for me to do something else. I know all of you did the programme for longer, but I think when we do new things we grow and develop.
‘I’m a much better journalist than I was 11 years ago. This programme with all its pressures and the scrutiny, it’s an immense responsibility to be on here and a privilege as well. From all those times, you grow and develop and I know I’ll miss it.’
But Humphrys replied: ‘You know perfectly well you wouldn’t have got away with that answer if you had asked yourself the question. The question was “Did you want to go?” Because you know what everyone is saying out there, which is that the bosses made…’
But Husain did not give any further details about her departure and the conversation swiftly moved on.
During Tuesday’s programme, a number of clips from Husain’s previous interviews with the likes of Sir Keir Starmer, James Cleverly and Nigel Farage were played, and guests on the show also wished her well.
Here, Husain is pictured alongside Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak of the Conservative party during a debate in June
The presenter joined the BBC in 1998 and was previously the host of the recent UK general election debates
Previously, it was believed that Husain was having talks with bosses at the BBC about moving to a new role at the corporation
In a statement, the 51-year-old journalist said: ‘My time at the BBC has involved many memorable moments, going to places I would never otherwise have seen, witnessing history and being part of live, national conversation on Radio 4’
A clip was also played of Husain bursting into laughter while trying to present a piece on the world’s richest dog, Gunter, saying ‘this is a German Shepherd dog, not an actual German shepherd’.
Introducing the tribute segment, Robinson said: ‘The time has come, we can put it off no longer, even though we dearly wish it were not, this is Mishal’s last day.’
Paying tribute, Humphrys said: ‘She has been a joy to work with, absolute joy and indeed to know as a human being but she has been a pleasure to work.’
Meanwhile, Montague added: ‘I remember the first morning. We didn’t know each other before at all. At 4am, first of all she comes in looking like a supermodel.
‘There had been two women presenting the Today programme previously but there had always been horrible backlash. They hadn’t tried it out for a while, and I remember sitting there, the programme had started and I said ‘have you looked at Twitter?’.
‘And you said ‘I haven’t dared’. What I was watching was an absolute celebration, a hooray, partly an ‘at last’ and also you just sounded like you were born to it. I remember thinking, ‘hallelujah’.
Husain, 51, follows Martha Kearney in leaving the show this year after the Irish star stepped down in the summer.
But while Kearney has carried on presenting elsewhere on the BBC, Husain has gone entirely, announcing she is heading to Bloomberg.
It is a huge coup for the media company, which is seen as less prestigious in the UK at least.
It comes after claims she had not taken to recent addition to the presenting line-up Emma Barnett and had ‘not been terribly happy’ on the show.
In a statement, the 51-year-old journalist said last month: ‘My time at the BBC has involved many memorable moments, going to places I would never otherwise have seen, witnessing history and being part of live, national conversation on Radio 4.
‘I will always be grateful for the opportunities the BBC gave me, and wish the organisation and everyone who is part of it the very best.’
She then announced the news of her new job at Bloomberg, she wrote on X: ‘My news .. heading to Bloomberg to host a multi-platform global interview show as part of the recently launched Weekend Edition. Much to look forward to in this new chapter of career and life.’
Previously, it was believed that Husain was having talks with bosses at the BBC about moving to a new role at the corporation, once she departed the Today programme.
Numerous sources had suggested bosses were desperate to keep hold of her and were dreaming up new projects the highly-respected journalist could be used for.
But the announcement, which marked the end of a 26-year career, featured a statement from Husain that was just two sentences long.
Meanwhile BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness said: ‘Mishal leaves the BBC with an incredible journalistic legacy. After more than a decade on the Today programme she is going with our gratitude and affection and we wish her the best of luck in her new chapter.
‘I very much hope the BBC and Mishal will get the chance to work together again one day.’
Discussing her new role, Husain added: ‘I am delighted to be fronting a new interview show that will reach audiences in different formats as part of the exciting plans for Bloomberg Weekend Edition.
‘Ours is an ever more complex world but the desire for thoughtful conversations crosses all borders. I look forward to working with a new team at Bloomberg – the place which gave me my first job in journalism.’
Husain started out as a city reporter for English language outlet The News in Islamabad, Pakistan, at 18.
After working at Bloomberg Television, she joined the BBC in 1998 as a junior producer for News 24 (now BBC News).
Following that, she worked from the US to the Middle East, South Asia, Singapore and China as a presenter on BBC World News from 2001.
The presenter, who is highly regarded within the BBC, was said to be remaining on air until the new year
Husain started out as a city reporter for English language outlet The News in Islamabad, Pakistan, at 18
Since 2013, Husain has been a presenter of the Today Programme. In 2014, she was also the first reporter to enter the school that was attacked by the Taliban in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Three years later, her engagement interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle went viral around the world.
She has made documentaries on the life of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, the 2011 Arab Spring, the late Queen and Pakistani campaigner Malala Yousafzai.
She previously served as the channel’s Washington correspondent during the Iraq invasion, and occasionally anchors the News At Ten on weekdays.
Last summer, she chaired two general election debates including a head-to-head clash between Sir Keir Starmer and then PM Rishi Sunak.
However in September, the presenter came under criticism for failing to sufficiently challenge ‘antisemitic’ comments made by Today guest American-Iranian political analyst Mohammad Marandi.
Following a backlash from Jewish organisations, the BBC admitted it should have ‘continued to challenge’ Marandi’s language during the live interview.
