MOVING ON
Beloved BBC Radio host quits show after just four years on air in major presenting shake-up
She shared a highlight reel of her most special moments on the programme
WOMEN'S Hour host Emma Barnett has announced that she is leaving the show in a presenting shake-up.
The beloved journalist started heading up the 45 minute slot back in September 2020.
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She was already associated with the radio show before landing the job, as she previously presented its late-night spin-off, and regularly chaired the Woman's Hour Power List.
Emma began hosting the show at the age of 26, making her the youngest presenter in the radio programme's entire history.
Now she is stepping down as she takes on the new challenge of joining the team at the Today programme.
She revealed the shake-up on Instagram with a heartfelt post, saying: "Deep breath: Some work news… I am leaving the mighty mothership @bbcwomanshour and joining the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and making more TV shows with my big interviews and some new documentaries across the BBC.
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"It was a big decision and here are some of my thoughts which the BBC has just published… more to say soon.
"We are living in volatile times where sometimes even asking a question can seem risky - wrongly so.
"My ambition on the @bbctodayprogramme is to keep asking the questions that listeners want answers to - as well as raising many smiles along the way - while armed with a very strong cup of tea.
"I am delighted to be joining a programme that occupies such a unique space in British life and to also have the opportunity to expand my work across BBC TV and News."
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Emma went on to share some of her most memorable moments on Women's Hour, adding: "My time on @bbcwomanshour means a great deal to me and I want to thank the team and our mighty army of listeners for how much we have shared - the joy, wisdom, sorrow and sometimes sheer rage.
"I will carry so many of those moments with me for the rest of my life - chief amongst them conducting Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s first interview after her long-awaited release from prison in Iran; making a rare and special conversation happen with Kate Bush and reflecting the overwhelming response to the rape, abduction and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.
"I will greatly miss being within the rare and unique space Woman’s Hour provides, where most days anything can happen and routinely does.Plus it was pretty special to give birth to a daughter while working at the longest running women’s programme in the world. It has been a wild ride. All power to the next person gifted the opportunity."
The change is scheduled to take place in May 2024.
Emma will join current political presenters Justin Webb, Mishal Husain, Amol Rajan, Martha Kearney and Nick Robinson.
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