Presenter Simon McCoy quits BBC after landing job at GB News

The 59-year-old presenter is known for his funny asides and coverage of the Royal Family
Broadcaster Simon McCoy left the BBC today
BBC

Broadcaster Simon McCoy has left his job at the BBC after 18 years to take up a new role at GB News.

The 59-year-old presenter, who is known for his funny asides and coverage of the Royal Family, confirmed he was leaving the BBC on Thursday after colleagues wished him well.

McCoy signed off from his final BBC segment saying: “From me, it’s good afternoon, and goodbye.”

It was revealed shortly after his final show at 1pm, that the veteran broadcaster will join the new channel, GB News, which has already announced a series of signings including Dan Wootton, former executive editor at The Sun, and the former Sky broadcaster, Colin Brazier.

John McAndrew, director of news and programmes at GB News, said: “Simon’s journalistic integrity, warmth and personality is a perfect fit for what we’re doing at GB News.

“He’s a brilliant journalist with an exceptional ability to relate to people in an upbeat way so we’re keen to get him out from behind a desk and talking to people from all parts of the United Kingdom.”

McCoy hit the headlines in the New Year when he told viewers there would be package of the “highlights of 2020” only for nothing appear on screen and the news anchor to say: “Exactly, it’s farewell 2020.”

BBC

He also accidentally began a news report with a refill pack of A4 printer paper in his hands, instead of the usual iPad.

He got the giggles while reporting on a man playing the piano to monkeys and, when introducing a segment on the “world dog surfing championships”, sighed and told viewers: “Just bear in mind it is August.”

In his coverage outside St Mary’s Hospital, before Prince George’s birth, he told viewers that nothing much was happening.

He said: “The news is, there’s no news” adding: “until then we’re going to be speculating with no facts to hand.”

Sam Taylor, head of live and breaking for BBC News, said: “Sharp, funny and a great colleague – it has been a delight to have Simon at the helm of the BBC News Channel and BBC News at One.

“We’ll miss his one-liners, pregnant pauses and commitment to breaking news in every form, and wish him the very best for the future.”

Fellow colleague, Niall Jackson said McCoy “made the dreariest of heavy news days instantly more manageable”.

He tweeted: “If you think he’s a handful on-screen, imagine what he’s like off it? Only got to floor manage 4 years of his 17 + at @BBC News so was nice to do his final week.”

McCoy started his career as a reporter at the Fleet Street News Agency before joining Thames Television as a researcher and ITV’s breakfast channel.

He has also previously worked as a producer and reporter at Sky. He co-anchored Sky’s coverage of the Iraq War and presented the Sunrise and Tonight programmes.

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