Mishal Husain is to leave the BBC after a 26-year career as she today became the latest high-profile female journalist to depart the organisation.

The presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme 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: ‘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.’

Then announcing 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.’

Hussain, who fronted several 2024 general election debates for the BBC this year, joined the corporation in 1998.

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 today’s 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.’

The presenter, who is highly regarded within the BBC, was said to be remaining on air until the new year.

According to The Times, in January she was believed to be likely to take up a long-service benefit which lets people take up to five weeks of extra paid leave if they have been working at the BBC for more than 25 years.

One insider told the paper: ‘After 11 years Mishal has reached the point where the 3.30am alarm call is no longer a welcome noise.’

They added: ‘She is very highly thought of and there will be an extremely big effort to make sure she’s accommodated well elsewhere.’

In June, the presenter had given a hint she may leave the show soon, when she told The Sunday Times she was ‘thinking about what is beyond Today’

She had said: ‘I’m wondering what the next act of my career might look like.’

Husain added: ‘I’ve been very lucky to work with great colleagues for many years.’

Among the names being touted as a replacement are BBC Europe Editor, Katya Adler, 52, and Anushka Asthana, 44, ITV News’ deputy political editor.

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.

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.