Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis launch new podcast with Global

[London Lite]

I might start watching Newsnight again.

Have to admit I prefer C4 News over Newsnight during the Maitlis era, but otherwise perfectly watchable with Kirsty, Emma or any of the stand-ins.

Emily is clearly a big talent, but I felt the Newsnight format didn't really work for her.

[CantGetIn]

In some ways it is good for people to go who are only in it for the money. It allows a new generation who still have spirit to flourish. Will be interesting to see these two in radio format....

Oof. Actually, there's been no mention of money. In saying that, it shows that you assume this is a financial decision.

I don't doubt that they're on more cash, but you can't blame them. None of us are charities, and while many of us do our jobs for less than we could/should for other reasons, you can't bemoan people who have spent years at a particular organisations seeking new chapters elsewhere for more cash.

It's a bit of a personal comment.

Well, there becomes a whole other debate about the BBC being funded by public money and how much it pays people, should this be in line with private companies etc etc.

I don't bemoan them for wanting money (and that is my assumption but I suspect it is the case), but the BBC is not really a place you can work for long if you are only there for the money.

[London Lite]

I think a factor in publishing talent salaries is a factor in them moving to the commercial sector.

[XIII]

Global have always wanted to emulate their brands as alternatives to the BBC national stations, so LBC poaching premium BBC talent is nothing new.

However I don't think Ferrari is going anywhere unless he wants to, they have the right balance on daytime at the moment. Personally I'd give Sopel a gig on LBC News during the week to bolster their already credible line-up in addition to a show with Maitlis on LBC at the weekend.

The weekday lineup at LBC is very solid, the Breakfast and mid morning slot held by Ferrari and O'Brien has been unchanged for almost two decades which is extraordinary when you think about it.

[Newshound47]

Because of it’s nature BBC News is more directly affected by talent poaching than many other parts of the BBC whose salaries are not published due to to the talent being paid by the production Company that produces the show. Plus also the top BBC news presenters are mostly not freelance and if they are freelance are still restricted on outside roles to a greater extent than other freelance presenters elsewhere in broadcasting.

[London Lite]

Global have always wanted to emulate their brands as alternatives to the BBC national stations, so LBC poaching premium BBC talent is nothing new.

However I don't think Ferrari is going anywhere unless he wants to, they have the right balance on daytime at the moment. Personally I'd give Sopel a gig on LBC News during the week to bolster their already credible line-up in addition to a show with Maitlis on LBC at the weekend.

The weekday lineup at LBC is very solid, the Breakfast and mid morning slot held by Ferrari and O'Brien has been unchanged for almost two decades which is extraordinary when you think about it.

And remember, LBC's core product is opinionated phone-ins, which leaves Sopel and Maitlis to a weekend magazine format. While they're excellent journalists and broadcasters, I really don't want to hear them talking to listeners complaining about LTNs or other issues that wind-up the target audience which Nick and James are excellent at debating with.

[Brekkie]

They're doing the podcast daily anyway along with the weekly radio show, and as they've not even started yet probably a bit soon to talk about their next move. Chances are they'll be looking at the opportunities that working for Global rather than the BBC enable them to do outside their day job rather than having their eyes on getting up for a breakfast show every morning.

[all new Phil]

Surely the BBC now has to be very concerned (if not alarmed) about the sheer number of high-profile talent who've decided to leave the corporation over the past few years?

Are you joking? This is exactly what they want. They have been offering voluntary redundancies for a while now. They have far too many people on big salaries.

[boddington]

I know there was the tweet about Emily Maitlis working on something in the US, but her protracted absence from Newsnight over the last month or so was clearly a sign that this was something more significant.

[JamesWorldNews]

Soapy and Maitlis were always a formidable duo together both onscreen and on radio. Good signing by Global.

Ironically, Soapy’s last studio job at the BBC was itself a programme called “Global”.

As for the gaps they leave behind at the BBC.........already filled, I guess.

[Inspector Sands]

The weekday lineup at LBC is very solid, the Breakfast and mid morning slot held by Ferrari and O'Brien has been unchanged for almost two decades which is extraordinary when you think about it.

Yep and both did well in the Rajars the other week, but James' audience was higher than Ferrari's. Presumbky this is mainly because of the change in listening habits in covid times, but the recent news cycle has definately been in James O'Brien's favour

[Andrew]

There does seem to be an awful lot of experience walking out of the door at the BBC at the moment, Lots of big names that have been there for many years. Yes you need new talent coming through, but you also need those established trusted names who have been around for decades.

The only position that would have been a promotion for Emily would have been the Marr slot, with her name above the door, a bigger show, with more viewers, and big name political interviews that set the agenda. Maybe she didn’t want it, or the BBC didn’t want her.

Regarding Newsnight, I’m surprised it is still going even now, and not simulcast with the news channel in any way. I can’t see Kirsty Walk staying around for much longer which is probably when they will decide whether to relaunch or change it in some way

[House]

I know there was the tweet about Emily Maitlis working on something in the US, but her protracted absence from Newsnight over the last month or so was clearly a sign that this was something more significant.

A 10-part documentary on America for the Beeb, which presumably is still going ahead. I know Jon has removed the ‘BBC’ from his twitter handle, but Emily’s tweet made clear she’s leaving later this year. I assume they’ll want to close out Americast before they go, and it’s possible Emily will return to Newsnight briefly before she departs given this new role isn’t in direct competition with her current work (think: Marr and Mair both remained in their roles for months after announcing they were joining Global).

Given that it’s reported Sopel wasn’t in the running for the Sunday morning slot and also doesn’t seem to be a favourite to join Today or any of the other big programmes, you have to wonder what the BBC were planning to do with him next. If he didn’t become political editor, would he simply have returned to the News Channel or World News like Carrie Gracie did? Would he have become the latest broadcaster at the BBC to ‘float’ between programmes (like Clive Myrie)?

This move allows them to do stuff they love, with greater editorial and creative control. I think in truth, though, they must either have grown tired of BBC management and/or have doubted the Beeb’s future. Going from a lead presenter on BBC election coverage and a nightly news and current affairs programme to doing a daily podcast and weekly LBC show? Hmm.

As for the gaps they leave behind at the BBC.........already filled, I guess.

Sopel, perhaps. But the BBC are running low on broadcast journalists who know how to forensically interview at a high level. Emily Maitlis was, in my view, one of the last knock-out presenters in that respect (I’d put Emma Barnett and Mishal Husain in the same boat). They have a thousand people who can adequately present Newsnight, but very few who could do the Prince Andrew interview, especially once the likes of Eddie Mair had gone.

[Newsroom]

I know there was the tweet about Emily Maitlis working on something in the US, but her protracted absence from Newsnight over the last month or so was clearly a sign that this was something more significant.

A 10-part documentary on America for the Beeb, which presumably is still going ahead. I know Jon has removed the ‘BBC’ from his twitter handle, but Emily’s tweet made clear she’s leaving later this year. I assume they’ll want to close out Americast before they go, and it’s possible Emily will return to Newsnight briefly before she departs given this new role isn’t in direct competition with her current work (think: Marr and Mair both remained in their roles for months after announcing they were joining Global).

Given that it’s reported Sopel wasn’t in the running for the Sunday morning slot and also doesn’t seem to be a favourite to join Today or any of the other big programmes, you have to wonder what the BBC were planning to do with him next. If he didn’t become political editor, would he simply have returned to the News Channel or World News like Carrie Gracie did? Would he have become the latest broadcaster at the BBC to ‘float’ between programmes (like Clive Myrie)?

This move allows them to do stuff they love, with greater editorial and creative control. I think in truth, though, they must either have grown tired of BBC management and/or have doubted the Beeb’s future. Going from a lead presenter on BBC election coverage and a nightly news and current affairs programme to doing a daily podcast and weekly LBC show? Hmm.

As for the gaps they leave behind at the BBC.........already filled, I guess.

Sopel, perhaps. But the BBC are running low on broadcast journalists who know how to forensically interview at a high level. Emily Maitlis was, in my view, one of the last knock-out presenters in that respect (I’d put Emma Barnett and Mishal Husain in the same boat). They have a thousand people who can adequately present Newsnight, but very few who could do the Prince Andrew interview, especially once the likes of Eddie Mair had gone.

Someone that has really impressed on me when interviewing basically anyone is - Victoria Derbyshire, I wonder if she may be a potential candidate for Newsnight.

[Brekkie]

I think she did her first one a few weeks ago.