BBC Newsnight editor quits amid rumors of £5m cut to show's budget

Newsnight editor Stuart McLean Photo: BBC

The editor of Newsnight has quit amid “stressful” uncertainty over the future of the programme.

Stuart McLean has announced he is leaving the current affairs show to take up a new role in Africa, telling colleagues his departure «couldn't be more poorly timed».

The outgoing editor said said it had been a «busy» time for staff working on Newsnight, which is rumored to be having its budget cut by £5m.

His departure, just a year after his appointment, follows reports of a dwindling viewership for the late-night show. In an email to colleagues, Mr McLean said: “I am acutely aware of how stressful the last few weeks have been for our team amid rumors of proposed program changes.”

p >“I know there is great uncertainty and I am sorry to be signaling my departure at a time of such uncertainty.”

Mr McLean, who takes over as BBC World News Content's Africa bureau chief in Nairobi, was executive producer of the BBC's infamous 2019 interview with the Duke of York before being promoted to editor in 2022. He replaces Esmé Wren, who left to take over Channel 4 news.

Jeremy Paxman's final show Newsnight was watched by more than a million people, but the programme's average audience fell from 565,000 in 2020 to 365,000.

There were rumors that executives were planning to cut the show's budget. from around £8 million a year to £3 million as part of the BBC's wider cost-cutting efforts.

Mr McLean believes the show has a future and in an email he said: «Despite the current uncertainty, it is clear that Newsnight will continue into the future and I have no doubt that it will thrive.

«I will enjoy the opportunity to watch what you all do with the program in subsequent years as we progress. for our 50th year on air.»

BBC management praised him, with Paul Danahar, executive editor of BBC World News Content, telling staff: «Stuart is one of the BBC's most creative and experienced people. news editors. As head and deputy head of Newsnight, he has consistently produced impressive, original journalism.

“He has proven editorial leadership, has managed a large team of journalists and has a track record of identifying and developing new talent.”