BBC Europe correspondent Stephen Sackur has been named as the new presenter of BBC News 24’s daily interview show Hardtalk.
He takes over from Tim Sebastian who has presented Hardtalk since it bagan in 1997.
Sackur, 41, will start his new job on 18 April.
Sackur, 41, will start his new job on 18 April.
He said: “This is a huge challenge for me. I’ve
spent the past 15 years as a foreign correspondent, representing the
BBC abroad, and am very much aware of the massive pulling power of
Hardtalk.
spent the past 15 years as a foreign correspondent, representing the
BBC abroad, and am very much aware of the massive pulling power of
Hardtalk.
“I’ve met many world leaders, all of whom respect Hardtalk, and I can think of no bigger programme with which to be involved.
“I’ve had pretty much the best job in the BBC as
a foreign correspondent, and the only way of topping it is through
Hardtalk, putting tough questions to the people who shape our world.”
a foreign correspondent, and the only way of topping it is through
Hardtalk, putting tough questions to the people who shape our world.”
Sebastian is to work on “other projects” for the BBC.
He said: “It’s been an enormous privilege to ask leading questions and to travel the world trying to get answers.
He said: “It’s been an enormous privilege to ask leading questions and to travel the world trying to get answers.
“We’ve left some bruised political egos in our wake, and some important feathers ruffled.”
Sackur has been with BBC News since 1986 and has previously been Middle East correspondent and Washington correspondent.
He is married with three children and was educated at Cambridge and Harvard.
He is married with three children and was educated at Cambridge and Harvard.
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