Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel have quit the BBC, after signing a golden handcuffs deal likely to net them a fortune.
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The pair will now host a show together on LBC. They are also set to front a new podcast for Global Player.
Sopel was the Beeb’s North American editor. He first joined the broadcaster in 1983.
He and Maitlis also hosted the BBC’s critically-acclaimed Amercast podcast, which looks at US politics.
Announcing her departure on Twitter today, Maitlis said: “It’s an amazing opportunity to do something we all love, and we are so thrilled Global is giving us this opportunity to be big and ambitious with this project.”
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Sopel added: “I’m delighted to be joining Global with my great friend and colleague, Emily Maitlis.
“We’ve been blown away by the reception for Americast, and are so excited that Global has given us the opportunity to build on this success by creating this innovative news podcast.
“This is an unmissable opportunity”, he added.
The deal is likely to lead to a pay rise for Sopel and Maitlis. The presenters earn at least £235,000 and £325,000 respectively at the BBC, according to the corporation’s annual accounts.
Maitlis is one of the Corporation’s biggest stars
She is the lead anchor of BBC Two’s news and current affairs programme Newsnight, and also covers elections for the BBC in UK, US and Europe.
Sopel was formerly the BBC’s North America editor; chief political correspondent for the domestic news channel BBC News; a presenter on the Politics Show on BBC One and the BBC News channel; and from 2013 to 2014, the main presenter on Global, on BBC World News.
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