Mark Mardell to leave the BBC

News correspondent Mark Mardell has announced he is leaving the BBC.

“I’m leaving the BBC after more than 30 years,” said Mark.

“Very sad to leave hugely talented and lovely team. Excited to forge a new future.”

Mardell began his career reporting and reading the news for the commercial station Radio Tees.

He first appeared on television on Channel 4’s The Sharp End. He joined the BBC in 1989 as political correspondent for the BBC Six O’Clock News.

From 1992 to 2000, Mardell worked as political editor for BBC Two’s Newsnight programme.

My last #wato tomorrow & #TW2 on Sunday – I’m leaving the BBC after more than 30 years. V sad to leave hugely talented and lovely team. Excited to forge a new future. pic.twitter.com/bKOB0Mlf8p

— Mark Mardell (@MarkIMardell) October 29, 2020

He returned to the BBC’s Six O’Clock News, before becoming chief political correspondent and moving to the BBC Ten O’Clock News in 2003.

Two years later he became the BBC’s first Europe editor. Mardell left his post to replace Justin Webb as BBC North America editor when Webb became a presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme.

At the end of April 2014, it emerged that he was to leave his post in North America and become a presenter on BBC Radio 4 hosting The World This Weekend and the Friday edition of The World at One.