Category: News
Date: 22.02.2006
Printable version
Emily Maitlis, presenter of the 91Èȱ¬'s main evening news programme for London on 91Èȱ¬ ONE, is to take on two new significant roles with 91Èȱ¬ News, joining 91Èȱ¬ News 24 and 91Èȱ¬ TWO's Newsnight.
Ìý
Emily will co-present 91Èȱ¬ News 24 from 7.00 to 10.00pm with another new face to the channel - the 91Èȱ¬'s Special Correspondent, Ben Brown.
Ìý
She will also join Newsnight's regular presenter line-up of Jeremy Paxman, Kirsty Wark, Martha Kearney and Gavin Esler.
Ìý
Emily and Ben's new roles with 91Èȱ¬ News 24 follow a period of sustained growth for the channel.
Ìý
91Èȱ¬ News 24 is now the UK's leading continuous news channel, with 5.5 million viewers per week.
Ìý
Newsnight has been 91Èȱ¬ TWO's flagship current affairs programme since 1980 and is watched by 6.5 million viewers a week.
Ìý
Emily's career in journalism started in the Far East where she spent six years as a documentary maker and business correspondent for NBC Asia.
Ìý
She continued to report on business matters when she later joined Sky News, before her appointment as one of the channel's main news presenters.
Ìý
Emily joined the 91Èȱ¬ London News team in September 2001, where she has interviewed a number of major figures from political, sporting and show business circles, including Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Ìý
Ben, an award winning foreign affairs correspondent, joined 91Èȱ¬ News in 1988.
Ìý
In 1991 he was appointed as the 91Èȱ¬'s Moscow Correspondent, where he covered the collapse of communism, and in 1998 was appointed 91Èȱ¬ Special Correspondent.
Ìý
During his time at the 91Èȱ¬ he has played a prominent role in the coverage of some of the most significant international news events in recent years, including the break up of Yugoslavia, both Gulf wars and September 11th.
Ìý
Commenting on the appointment, Emily Maitlis said: "This is a great move for me. I would have given up an arm and a leg to work at Newsnight, so I'm rather pleased I don't have to.
Ìý
"I'm hugely looking forward to working with Ben on News 24; there's so much energy and so many new ideas on the channel at the moment, it feels like the right place to be."
Ìý
Ben Brown said:
"I'm thrilled to be joining the News 24 team of presenters. The channel is riding high at the moment, and has aÌýtremendous energy.
Ìý
"I hope I can add to that with my knowledge and experience of almost 20 years of international affairs.
Ìý
"I also hope to present from the field when the major stories arise."
Ìý
Peter Horrocks, 91Èȱ¬
Head of Television News, said:
"This is great news for both viewers and 91Èȱ¬ News.
Ìý
"Ben and Emily are extremely accomplished broadcasters, and personify the best traditions of television journalism - rigorous, straightforward and always fair."
Ìý
PR2
Ìý
