Mishal Husain finishes her last ever Today programme with an emotional send-off as she leaves BBC after 26 years

Mishal Husain introduced down the curtain on her 26-year profession on the BBC with an emotional send-off as she offered her last As we speak programme this morning.

The Radio 4 presenter, who fronted a number of 2024 basic election debates for the BBC this yr, joined the company in 1998 and has offered the As we speak programme for 11 years.

Radio 4 invited former colleagues into the studio and performed a few of Husain’s profession highlights because the BBC paid tribute to their star presenter, as soon as described by The Telegraph as ‘The As we speak programme’s interrogator in chief’.

Husain and her co-presenters, Nick Robinson and Justin Webb, had been joined within the studio by former As we speak hosts Sarah Montague and John Humphrys, with the latter quizzing the departing star on whether or not she needed to depart or if she was ‘made’ to.

In her last message on the present, Husain, who was additionally joined by her husband, mentioned: ‘The second is now upon me, time to say farewell to this programme and to the BBC. 

‘In my time right here, I’ve discovered extra in me than I knew was there and I journey on to find what but may lie inside.

‘Within the custom of my religion when folks used to go on pilgrimage in generations previous, they might not solely take their depart of associates and associates, however they might ask for his or her forgiveness as a result of in these days, many didn’t return from the arduous journey. 

‘I hope subsequently you may forgive me for the occasions I crashed the pips, squeezed the climate, every other dastardly deeds…

‘My heartfelt thanks go to all my BBC colleagues throughout the UK and all over the world and to you, wherever you might be listening from, on your time and your belief. On this final morning, I’ve been allowed music and I’m going to depart you with my selection.’

Earlier than The Monkees’ hit Daydream Believer performed out on the finish of the programme, Husain signed off with: ‘From me, good morning and goodbye.’

Radio 4 invited former colleagues into the studio and performed a few of Husain’s profession highlights because the BBC paid tribute to their star presenter

Mishal Husain will depart the BBC after a 26-year profession when she steps down from the As we speak programme

Husain joined the BBC as a producer earlier than changing into a presenter on BBC World Information in 2001

Though there have been a number of emotional tributes paid by colleagues previous and current, Humphrys quizzed Husain on her determination to depart.

In true journalism mode, Humphrys mentioned: ‘Can I ask a tough query? Did you need to go?

Husain replied: ‘That is once I now remorse saying ‘Would not or not it’s good to ask John again?’ 

‘I believe it was time for me to do one thing else. I do know all of you probably did the programme for longer, however I believe once we do new issues we develop and develop.

‘I am a a lot better journalist than I used to be 11 years in the past. This programme with all its pressures and the scrutiny, it is an immense accountability to be on right here and a privilege as effectively. From all these occasions, you develop and develop and I do know I will miss it.’

However Humphrys replied: ‘You recognize completely effectively you would not have gotten away with that reply when you had requested your self the query. The query was “Did you need to go?” As a result of what everyone seems to be saying on the market, which is that the bosses made…’

However Husain didn’t give any additional particulars about her departure and the dialog swiftly moved on.  

Throughout Tuesday’s programme, quite a few clips from Husain’s earlier interviews with the likes of Sir Keir Starmer, James Cleverly and Nigel Farage had been performed, and company on the present additionally wished her effectively.

Right here, Husain is pictured alongside Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak of the Conservative get together throughout a debate in June

The presenter joined the BBC in 1998 and was beforehand the host of the latest UK basic election debates

Beforehand, it was believed that Husain was having talks with bosses on the BBC about shifting to a brand new position on the company

In a press release, the 51-year-old journalist mentioned: ‘My time on the BBC has concerned many memorable moments, going to locations I might by no means in any other case have seen, witnessing historical past and being a part of reside, nationwide dialog on Radio 4’

A clip was additionally performed of Husain bursting into laughter whereas making an attempt to current a bit on the world’s richest canine, Gunter, saying ‘this can be a German Shepherd canine, not an precise German shepherd’.

Introducing the tribute phase, Robinson mentioned: ‘The time has come, we will put it off now not, though we dearly want it weren’t, that is Mishal’s final day.’

Paying tribute, Humphrys mentioned: ‘She has been a pleasure to work with, absolute pleasure and certainly to know as a human being however she has been a pleasure to work.’

In the meantime, Montague added: ‘I bear in mind the primary morning. We did not know one another earlier than in any respect. At 4am, initially she is available in trying like a supermodel. 

‘There had been two girls presenting the As we speak programme beforehand however there had at all times been horrible backlash. They hadn’t tried it out for some time, and I bear in mind sitting there, the programme had began and I mentioned ‘have you ever checked out Twitter?’.

‘And also you mentioned ‘I have not dared’. What I used to be watching was an absolute celebration, a hooray, partly an ‘eventually’ and likewise you simply sounded such as you had been born to it. I bear in mind considering, ‘hallelujah’. 

Husain, 51, follows Martha Kearney in leaving the present this yr after the Irish star stepped down in the summertime.

However whereas Kearney has carried on presenting elsewhere on the BBC, Husain has gone completely, saying she is heading to Bloomberg.

It’s a enormous coup for the media firm, which is seen as much less prestigious within the UK not less than.

It comes after claims she had not taken to latest addition to the presenting line-up Emma Barnett and had ‘not been terribly glad’ on the present.

In a press release, the 51-year-old journalist mentioned final month: ‘My time on the BBC has concerned many memorable moments, going to locations I might by no means in any other case have seen, witnessing historical past and being a part of reside, nationwide dialog on Radio 4.

‘I’ll at all times be thankful for the alternatives the BBC gave me, and need the organisation and everybody who’s a part of it the easiest.’

She then introduced the information of her new job at Bloomberg, she wrote on X: ‘My information .. heading to Bloomberg to host a multi-platform world interview present as a part of the just lately launched Weekend Version. A lot to sit up for on this new chapter of profession and life.’ 

Beforehand, it was believed that Husain was having talks with bosses on the BBC about shifting to a brand new position on the company, as soon as she departed the As we speak programme.

Quite a few sources had recommended bosses had been determined to maintain maintain of her and had been dreaming up new tasks the highly-respected journalist may very well be used for.

However the announcement, which marked the tip of a 26-year profession, featured a press release from Husain that was simply two sentences lengthy.

In the meantime BBC Information chief govt Deborah Turness mentioned: ‘Mishal leaves the BBC with an unbelievable journalistic legacy. After greater than a decade on the As we speak programme she goes with our gratitude and affection and we want her the very best of luck in her new chapter.

‘I very a lot hope the BBC and Mishal will get the prospect to work collectively once more sooner or later.’ 

Discussing her new position, Husain added: ‘I’m delighted to be fronting a brand new interview present that can attain audiences in several codecs as a part of the thrilling plans for Bloomberg Weekend Version.

‘Ours is an ever extra complicated world however the need for considerate conversations crosses all borders. I sit up for working with a brand new workforce at Bloomberg – the place which gave me my first job in journalism.’

Husain began out as a metropolis reporter for English language outlet The Information in Islamabad, Pakistan, at 18.

After working at Bloomberg Tv, she joined the BBC in 1998 as a junior producer for Information 24 (now BBC Information).

Following that, she labored from the US to the Center East, South Asia, Singapore and China as a presenter on BBC World Information from 2001.

The presenter, who is very regarded inside the BBC, was mentioned to be remaining on air till the brand new yr

Husain began out as a metropolis reporter for English language outlet The Information in Islamabad, Pakistan, at 18

Since 2013, Husain has been a presenter of the As we speak Programme. In 2014, she was additionally the primary reporter to enter the varsity that was attacked by the Taliban in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Three years later, her engagement interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle went viral all over the world.

She has made documentaries on the lifetime of Indian chief Mahatma Gandhi, the 2011 Arab Spring, the late Queen and Pakistani campaigner Malala Yousafzai.

She beforehand served because the channel’s Washington correspondent throughout the Iraq invasion, and sometimes anchors the Information At Ten on weekdays. 

Final summer season, she chaired two basic election debates together with a head-to-head conflict between Sir Keir Starmer after which PM Rishi Sunak.

Nevertheless in September, the presenter got here underneath criticism for failing to sufficiently problem ‘antisemitic’ feedback made by As we speak visitor American-Iranian political analyst Mohammad Marandi.

Following a backlash from Jewish organisations, the BBC admitted it ought to have ‘continued to problem’ Marandi’s language throughout the reside interview.