The editor of Newsnight has quit amid “stressful” uncertainty about the future of the programme.
Stewart Maclean announced he is leaving the current affairs show to take up a new role in Africa, telling colleagues his departure “couldn’t be timed more badly”.
The outgoing editor said it was a “stressful” time for staff working on Newsnight, which faces rumoured budget cuts of £5million.
His departure, only a year after being appointed, follows reports of a shrinking audience for the evening show.
In an email to colleagues, Mr Maclean stated: “I’m acutely aware of how stressful the last few weeks have been for our team amid speculation about proposed changes to the programme.
“I know there’s a huge amount of uncertainty and I’m sorry to be signalling my departure at a time of such instability.”
Mr Maclean, who is taking up a role as BBC World News Content’s Africa bureau chief in Nairobi, was the executive producer behind the BBC’s infamous interview with the Duke of York in 2019 before being appointed editor in 2022. He replaced Esme Wren, who left to lead Channel 4 News.
More than one million people tuned in for Jeremy Paxman’s final Newsnight show, but the programme’s average audience has fallen from 565,000 in 2020 to 365,000.
It has been rumoured that executives are looking to cut the budget of the show from around £8 million per year to £3 million as part of a wider cost-cutting effort by the BBC.
Mr Maclean believes the show has a future, saying in his email: “Despite the current uncertainty, it is clear that Newsnight will continue into the future and I have no doubt it will thrive.
“I will relish the chance to watch what you all do with the programme in the years going forward as we advance towards our 50th year on air.”
He has been praised by BBC bosses, with Paul Danahar, the BBC World News Content executive news editor, telling staff: “Stewart is one of the BBC’s most creative and accomplished editors in news. As the head, and deputy head, of Newsnight he has consistently delivered high-impact original journalism.
“He has proven editorial leadership, has managed a large team of journalists and has a track record of finding and developing new talent.”
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