Rob Bonnet announces his retirement from the BBC

Rob Bonnet will retire from the BBC later this year after nearly 50 years with the corporation.

He first joined the BBC in 1977 and has been reporting on sport for the BBC for the majority of his career, working on major events around the World and interviewing some of the biggest sporting figures.

Rob has presented the sport on BBC Radio 4’s Today, the BBC’s flagship news programme, since 2007 and will retire after the Olympic Games this summer.

“I shall look back with great affection for my time at the BBC which has allowed me to cover many important stories, meet countless outstanding sportsmen and women, form many friendships and visit numerous events all over the world,” Rob said.

“I have been proud to work for the world’s leading public service broadcaster and on Today, where I have been very happy in an office which has a special camaraderie as well as being the most influential and skilfully produced and presented radio news programme on the BBC.”

Rob has covered major sporting events including Football and Rugby Union World Cups, the Barcelona Olympic Games, Mike Tyson v Frank Bruno in Las Vegas, the Ryder Cup and England cricket tours to Australia and New Zealand.

Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, said: “Rob has been one of the voices of sport on the BBC for decades.

“From BBC Breakfast, coverage of World Cups and the Olympics, and more recently the Today programme, he has been a mainstay for our audiences and it is fitting that he will finish with this year’s Olympic Games and another wonderful summer of sport.”