Kirsty Wark's Newsnight replacement 'identified' as frontrunner emerges amid fears for show's future

Kirsty Wark's Newsnight replacement 'identified' as frontrunner emerges amid fears for show's future

WATCH NOW: Kirsty Wark clashes with Palestinian ambassador Husam Zomlot on Newsnight

BBC
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 24/10/2023

- 10:45

Long-serving presenter Kirsty Wark will step down from presenting Newsnight after the next general election

The next presenter to step into Kirsty Wark's shoes as the face of Newsnight is currently unknown following the 68-year-old's exit announcement last Thursday.

Nevertheless, it hasn't stopped speculation circulating as to who will be the next star of the show - which itself has faced quite the overhaul in recent months.


Not only is Wark - who was branded "cold and callous" for a recent interview with a Palestinian ambassador - leaving the BBC staple after the next general election but Newsnight has also lost chief correspondent David Grossman, as well as editor Stewart Maclean.

Add to the mix dwindling ratings and the future of the show looks uncertain, although Newsnight is tipped to continue albeit with budget cuts on the way and an overhaul of its format likely.

According to i, "prominent figures" at Newsnight are said to be "considering their future" following the reports of budget cuts and a switch to a studio debate-led format.

Nevertheless, with no official news of Newsnight's demise, the race to take over from Wark is on and there's a clear favourite for the role according to new data obtained by GB News.

Mishal Husain

Mishal Husain is the favourite to take over from Kirsty Wark on Newsnight

GETTY

Mishal Husain has emerged as the most likely candidate to fill the void left by Wark when she says her goodbyes next year.

The newsreader and presenter, 50, currently serves as a main presenter on the channel's weekend coverage of the News at Ten and other bulletins.

She also works on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and often steps in for other colleagues as a relief presenter during the week.

She's currently priced as a 2/1 favourite to land the role with BettingSites.co.uk but she isn't the only familiar face on the BBC to be in the running.

BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty is close behind Husain at 4/1 while Steph McGovern - whose work diary has freed up after Channel 4 axed her talk show Steph's Packed Lunch - could return to the Beeb with odds of 5/1.

Other names in the mix are Nick Robinson on 11/2, Robert Peston on 8/1, Beth Rigby on 10/1, Sally Nugent on 14/1 and Louise Minchin on 16/1.

Outsiders in the market as it stands include Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid who's priced at 25/1, Strictly Come Dancing star and Channel 4 newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy at 33/1, and even Holly Willoughby - fresh off the back of her This Morning exit - who fetches 100/1 odds.

Head of News for BettingSites.co.uk, Lee Astley, told GB News about the odds: "BBC's Mishal Husain is being backed to take over from Kirsty Wark after the Newsnight presenter announced her 30-year run on the political talk show will be coming to an end.

Naga Munchetty

Naga Munchetty is also in the running to replace Wark

BBC

"Husain has filled in for Wark a number of times on Newsnight and the 6 o'clock news broadcaster would make a seamless transition into the Newsnight chair.

"Naga Munchetty, another BBC presenter close in the running, has worked on the breakfast show since 2021, but oddsmakers believe she has the right temperament for the hard-hitting current affairs program."

The BBC is yet to officially announce a decision on Wark's replacement at the time of writing.

Wark made the decision to quit Newsnight prior to the recent reports of an overhaul and budget cuts as she mentioned in her farewell statement she met with BBC director Tim Davie "last year" to express her desire to leave.

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