Emily Maitlis says it's like 'going home' as she joins rival Channel 4 for election night
Election night will be one of the biggest events in these broadcasters’ careers... but for Emily Maitlis, it will feel like “going home”.
The 53-year-old appears in Tatler magazine alongside Sky’s Kay Burley, 63, and the BBC’s Mishal Husain, 51. Emily, who worked on Channel 4 before joining the BBC and fronting Newsnight, will be at the helm of the network’s coverage on July 4, alongside Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
She told Tatler: “There was a little rivalry between Channel 4 News and Newsnight. We always used to fight for the same guests and the same stories. I feel like I’m going home.” She added that she realised she wanted to cover the election while watching the America Decides election episode of HBO drama Succession, about warring siblings in a media dynasty.
EMILY MAITLIS, KAY BURLEY AND MISHAL HUSAIN
EMILY MAITLIS
It will be the first time she has hosted a news show since 2022, when she left Newsnight amid BBC cutbacks. The co-host of The News Agents podcast said: “It kind of broke my heart. The whole programme is obviously going through a massive change. What’s weird is you’re in the process of helping to write that first draft of history, but you don’t always realise it at the time.”
EMILY MAITLIS
On the election, she added: “Either it’s the first change of government for 15 years or the most incredible comeback you’ve seen.” The award-winning journalist was lead anchor of the BBC ’s Newsnight from 2018 to 2022. She left to join Global and start The News Agents podcast with Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall.
On Newsnight in 2019, Emily memorably interviewed Prince Andrew about his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with Netflix recreating the chat in its drama Scoop, starring Gillian Anderson. The experienced presenter previously said of her new role: “[I’m] delighted to be bringing The News Agents to the heart of Channel 4 on this important night, and to work with such an incredible cast of people. I cannot wait.”
EMILY MAITLIS
Emily Maitlis,
Co-host Krishnan added: “I’m so looking forward to joining this brilliant line-up to capture an exciting and historic night. We will have piercing analysis, sharp interviews and all those memorable moments as the results come in. This is going to be one of those rare election nights that we remember for decades.” On the night, presenter Cathy Newman will be live from the campaign HQs of the Conservatives and Labour, and Clare Balding will be breaking down the data. The Rest is Politics podcast hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart will bring their own analysis.
See the full feature in the August issue of Tatler, available via digital download and on newsstands from Thursday 27 June.
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