Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel to leave BBC

[Quhet]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-6047...

Both Maitlis and Sopel are excellent journalists and their departure will be keenly felt IMO. Quite a few high profile departures over the last couple of years. Can't help but feel that it's a bit of a shame...

[rjfp1962]

I don't think Maitlis has hosted Newsnight at all this year - Haven't seen Sopel for ages either..

[CABC]

both had strengths, esp Sopel, but the elephant in the room is the void left by Andrew Neil. informed, forensic and impartial.

[Randy Winkman]

Quhet said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-6047...

Both Maitlis and Sopel are excellent journalists and their departure will be keenly felt IMO. Quite a few high profile departures over the last couple of years. Can't help but feel that it's a bit of a shame...

If my memory is serving me correctly, some people have always left the BBC to get better money elsewhere.

[BryanC]

Another reason to switch to Talk Radio - the home of common sense. Apart from Iain Dale, LBC is not what it used to be.

[CABC]

I look upon lbc and talk radio as two echo chambers for left and right. ID and NF excepted.

[Vasco]

Good people, but not irreplaceable.
No harm in some fresh faces.

[anonymous-user]

BryanC said:

Another reason to switch to Talk Radio - the home of common sense. Apart from Iain Dale, LBC is not what it used to be.

Another reason to listen to LBC
James O’Brien / Nick Abbott / Darren Adam are my favourites. Not keen on Dale TBH. Steve Allen is dreadful.
Thankfully can take your pick via catchup
Never listened to Talk Radio. Seen that dreadful Julia lady on TV a few times, which put me off..

[carl_w]

First guest: Prince Andrew

[Murph7355]

Quhet said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-6047...

Both Maitlis and Sopel are excellent journalists and their departure will be keenly felt IMO. Quite a few high profile departures over the last couple of years. Can't help but feel that it's a bit of a shame...

Sopel's OK but Maitlis can't go into podcast obscurity quick enough. Shouty person goes to shouty radio. Meh.

The only two I've liked on Newsnight for long time are Kirtsy Wark and Mark Urban. Both look suitably embarrassed when they are clearly asked to turn up the bolshy interviewer style.

The BBC screwed the pooch when they got rid of Neil and Portillo.

[Evanivitch]

Quite enjoyed them both on the Amiercast podcast on BBC Sounds.

[DeejRC]

Sopel hasn’t been North American editor since Nov or Dec last yr I don’t think, which if he is leaving the BBC would explain it. Three month notice period, etc. I saw an article on the Beeb last week about the new lass covering the American beat saying it was less nasty politically than Scottish politics back home. She is John Smiths daughter and apparently has been called every name under the sodden Scottish skies back home when she covered her native beat.

[HarryW]

James6112 said:

BryanC said:

Another reason to switch to Talk Radio - the home of common sense. Apart from Iain Dale, LBC is not what it used to be.

Another reason to listen to LBC
James O’Brien / Nick Abbott / Darren Adam are my favourites. Not keen on Dale TBH. Steve Allen is dreadful.
Thankfully can take your pick via catchup
Never listened to Talk Radio. Seen that dreadful Julia lady on TV a few times, which put me off..

I find Radio 4 eXtra a better listen, it has no news…..

[julian987R]

BryanC said:

Another reason to switch to Talk Radio - the home of common sense. Apart from Iain Dale, LBC is not what it used to be.

AH yes, the station that says concrete can be grown.

[b0rk]

julian987R said:

AH yes, the station that says concrete can be grown.

Whilst Mike Graham was being an argumentative tt at the time, as per usual. You can actually grow concrete. Very, very experimental material which he almost certainly wasn’t aware of but it is possible. https://biomason.com/technology/

The tiles being made with Biolith precast would be made conventionally using concrete.

[Eric Mc]

DeejRC said:

Sopel hasn’t been North American editor since Nov or Dec last yr I don’t think, which if he is leaving the BBC would explain it. Three month notice period, etc. I saw an article on the Beeb last week about the new lass covering the American beat saying it was less nasty politically than Scottish politics back home. She is John Smiths daughter and apparently has been called every name under the sodden Scottish skies back home when she covered her native beat.

Sarah Smith - nice to see she's got the North American gig.

[rdjohn]

Strictly Come Dancing in the Autumn is a sure thing for one of them.

[Randy Winkman]

Telegraph article suggesting the main reason they are going is that new Director-general Tim Davie’s strict rules on impartiality that are leading to hassle for presenters.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/tv/the-rea...

Plus money of course. Though as the article also points out we will probably never know what they are being paid in their new jobs as there's no obligation for anyone to tell us.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Randy Winkman said:

Telegraph article suggesting the main reason they are going is that new Director-general Tim Davie’s strict rules on impartiality that are leading to hassle for presenters.

I've always said the BBC should not be impartial, it should be anti government. Whoever is in power, the BBC should kick back against them. That should be the job of the BBC, to hold those in power to account.

Emily Maitlis does that to be fair. But during the pandemic, precious few others did. It was mainly left to Piers bloody Morgan. When Piers Morgan is the main person questioning ministers, you know we're in big trouble as a nation!

[paulguitar]

CABC said:

Andrew Neil. informed, forensic and impartial.

Neil has significantly deteriorated IMO. He did a hit-piece on Joe Biden a few weeks ago (for the Wail) that, unforgivably, contained transparent falsehoods. Very disappointing.