BBC News is losing one of its longest serving journalists after 47 years on screen.
Royal Correspondent Nicholas Witchell has announced that he will be retiring from the broadcaster next year.
In a post shared on X – formerly Twitter – the BBC revealed: "After 47 fantastic years we will be bidding farewell to Royal Correspondent Nicholas Witchell, who will be retiring next year.
"Nick has reported from across the world and presented key BBC News shows. Thank you for your remarkable service!"
Nicholas, 70, first joined the BBC in 1976 and, alongside Sue Lawley, was the first newsreader to host BBC News at Six.
During his career, Nicholas was first to report some of the biggest news stories of the day, including the death of Lord Mountbatten in 1979, the death of former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1986, the Lockerbie disaster in 1988 and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997.
Read More on the BBC
hook, line & stinker
BBC viewers left livid by 'annoying' new celeb host on wildlife show
breaking news
How to get great Sun stories direct to your phone on our WhatsApp channel
He became the Royal Correspondent in 1998 and infamously was branded "so awful" by the then Prince Charles under his breath in 2005.
Nicholas is married to wife Maria and the couple have two daughters.
The news of Nicholas's retirement plans prompted a flood of tributes from his BBC colleagues and fans of his work.
Sarah Campbell tweeted: "A brilliant and supportive colleague. One of very few journalists who most of the public know by name.
Most read in News TV
DANCE FEVER
Nikita & Layton’s Strictly quickstep makes history as fans rage over Les Dennis
FAB CHOICE
90s comedy legend revealed as Rita Ora’s Masked Singer replacement
TROLL TERROR
Sick trolls send me pics of coffins wishing me dead, says Strictly’s Shirley
REALITY BITES
Big Brother’s Chantelle opens up on how fame ruined her life & made her bald
"So many career highlights – but for me, it has to be his flawless handling of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Very sad that he is leaving – but my goodness, what a career!"
Fellow journalist Charlie Proctor wrote: "Wishing Nicholas Witchell a happy retirement.
"He was very supportive of me when I first started my royal reporting career a decade ago, taking time out of his busy schedule to answer my many questions."
Dickie Arbiter added: "The retirement of the @BBCNews's #NickWitchell after 47 years will be a very sad departure – he's one of the few people at #Auntie with gravitas. A good innings and worth a #GoldRolex for staying the course."
Source: Read Full Article
