Jon Snow to quit Channel 4 News after 32 years
Jon Snow to quit Channel 4 News after 32 years: Veteran newsman will step down as host of show at end of 2021
- Married father-of-three and veteran journalist has spent 45 years at ITN
- 73-year-old will leave Channel 4 News as longest-serving presenter ever
- He will continue to work with Channel 4 and front ‘longer-form projects’
- Last month he welcomed a baby boy with his wife Dr Precious Lunga, 46
- Mr Snow has two older daughters with ex-partner Madeleine Colvin, 64
Veteran Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow will quit at the end of this year after 32 years at the helm of the programme, the broadcaster announced today.
The 73-year-old journalist, who has spent 45 years at ITN, will leave the programme as its longest-serving presenter ever – but will continue to work with Channel 4.
From next year he will front ‘longer-form projects’ for Channel 4 and focus on his charitable work along with ‘peoples’ stories, inequality, Africa, Iran and the arts’.
It comes a month after Mr Snow welcomed a baby boy with his wife Dr Precious Lunga, 46. He also has two older daughters with ex-partner Madeleine Colvin, 64.
Mr Snow, who married his Zimbabwean-born academic wife in 2010, said today: ‘After three incredible decades on Channel 4 News, it is time to move on.
Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow will quit after 32 years at the helm of the programme
Jon Snow and his wife Precious Lunga at a lunch to celebrate his Bafta fellowship in May 2015
Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow is pictured reporting from Sri Lanka in January 2016
‘I am excited by the many things I want to accomplish but I have to say I have enjoyed every minute of my time with the programme.
‘It has brought me adventure, as well as sorrow in some of the stories that I have had to report and also joy in reporting others.
‘But above all, it has brought me community in working with the most fantastic group of people who are bound in intellect, humour and understanding.
‘Together, we have forged a wonderful service. I feel proud to have contributed to Channel 4 News let alone to have anchored the programme for the last 32 years. I’m looking forward to new adventures and new challenges.’
Mr Snow, who is known for his array of colourful ties and socks, began his career in journalism with Independent Radio News (LBC) in 1973, before starting at ITN in 1976 where he was Washington correspondent from 1983 to 1986.
He was then diplomatic editor from 1986 to 1989 before becoming the main presenter of Channel 4 News in 1989.
Since then, he has travelled the world to cover the news – from the fall of Idi Amin in Uganda to the Revolution in Iran, and the wars in Iraq and conflicts in Israel.
He has also covered the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the release of Nelson Mandela and earthquakes in Kashmir, Japan and Haiti.
In addition, Mr Snow has covered the elections of Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Tony Blair and Barack Obama.
Mr Snow’s replacement has not yet been announced, but former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan threw his hat in the ring today, saying: ‘Shall I dust down my tie collection, Channel 4 News?’
His Channel 4 News colleague Krishnan Guru-Murthy praised his contribution to the programme over the years.
‘Jon is a national treasure and is most treasured by us, his colleagues,’ he said.
‘For 23 years I’ve sat next to him watching and learning from his extraordinary passion, energy and commitment.
‘He cares, massively. I know he has big exciting things ahead. We love you Jon!’
Cathy Newman, another presenter on the show, added: ‘It’s been a total privilege to present alongside @jonsnowC4 – a Titan of British broadcasting, a brilliant colleague, mentor and friend. Thank you Jon and see you in the studio!’
Jon Snow reporting for Channel 4 from the Tohoku Earthquake in Japan in March 2011
Jon Snow in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010, which he also covered for Channel 4 News
Jon Snow (left) is pictured as Margaret Thatcher arrives at No 10 Downing Street to take up office as prime minister following the Conservative victory in the general election in May 1979
ITV’s political editor Robert Peston labelled Mr Snow a ‘legend’.
Mr Snow’s awards include the Bafta prize for Best Factual Contribution to UK Television in 2005, and Royal Television Society awards for presenter of the year.
He is also a five times winner of presenter of the year, and in 2015 was given a Bafta Fellowship, which is the highest accolade handed out by the organisation.
Mr Snow was also made an honorary graduate by the University of Liverpool in 2011, by Sussex University in 2015 and then by Keele University in 2018.
In 2017 he delivered the MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in which he criticised media organisations for a lack of diversity.
Mr Snow has shared his name in more recent years with the Game of Thrones character Jon Snow, played by Kit Harington, with some Twitter users making light of this in memes today
As he announced his departure today, Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear said: ‘Jon has been the driving force behind Channel 4 News for the last 30 years.
When Jon Snow was accused of shouting ‘f*** the Tories’ during a photo at Glastonbury
One of Jon Snow’s most infamous moments came when he was accused of chanting ‘f**k the Tories’ while having his photo taken at Glastonbury.
He was alleged to have told revellers in 2017, ‘I’m supposed to be neutral’, after his comment about the Conservatives.
But he said he took thousands of pictures during his time at the festival, and did not remember one reveller’s account of him shouting the words.
The 2017 picture tweeted by @DannyMillea
A tweet by @DannyMillea said: ‘Boss place that Glasto. Having a dance with Jon Snow and hearing him shout f*** the Tories is what dream are made of.’
The tweet, which was later deleted, was accompanied by a photo of Mr Snow surrounded by a group of men.
And Mr Snow later told MailOnline: ‘After a day at Glastonbury I can honestly say I have no recollection of what was chanted, sung or who I took over 1,000 selfies with.’
Tory MPs including Philip Davies and Andrew Bridgen called for him to be sacked over the alleged remarks.
‘His fearless journalism, inherent compassion, a nose for a good story as well as sympathy for the underdog have been powered by relentless energy, charm and a mischievous sense of fun.
‘It has been a great honour to be his editor and friend, and I know that everyone at Channel 4 News and ITN feels that he is far more than a colleague.
‘As well as his support and friendship to fellow workers, for decades he has worked tirelessly for a multitude of charities and causes beyond the public gaze and for no other reason than to help those less fortunate than himself.
‘He may be leaving us after decades on the front line of history, but his contribution will live on and undoubtedly continue elsewhere. He is a wonderful man, and it has been an honour to call Jon our friend and colleague.’
ITN chief executive Deborah Turness said: ‘Over a lifetime dedicated to journalism, and in a life devoted to fairness and humanity, Jon Snow has earned a unique and special place in the hearts of the British audience.
‘There is only one Jon Snow – when they made him, they broke the mould. His warmth, intellect and decency have always prevailed, even as he held the powerful to account and sought justice for the weak and powerless.’
Channel 4’s chief content officer Ian Katz, said: ‘No-one can match the colossal contribution Jon has made to both broadcast journalism and Channel 4 over more than three decades.
‘He’s a talismanic figure whose combination of integrity, humanity and mischief helped make him the most trusted and well-loved news presenter of his generation, and the embodiment of everything Channel 4 aspires to be.
‘I’m immensely grateful for everything Jon has done to help establish Channel 4 News as Britain’s most trusted TV news programme and delighted that he will continue to appear on the channel after he steps down from presenting the News.’
Mr Snow has shared his name in more recent years with the Game of Thrones character Jon Snow, played by Kit Harington, with some Twitter users making light of this in memes they posted today.
Jon Snow: Acclaimed journalist with long career and love of jazzy socks and ties
An acclaimed and celebrated broadcaster whose journalism career began almost 50 years ago, Jon Snow will step down as presenter of Channel 4 News at the end of 2021.
Famed for his love of eye-catching socks and silk ties, he has been a staple of the channel’s news programme for 32 years.
Snow, 73, began his career in journalism for Independent Radio News, LBC in 1973.
He joined ITN, which produces Channel 4 News, in 1976 and served as Washington correspondent from 1983 to 1986 before working as diplomatic editor from 1986 from 1989.
Jon Snow interviews Idi Amin in Uganda in one of his most famous reports, in 1977
He became the main presenter of Channel 4 News in 1989 and has since travelled the world covering elections, revolutions and conflicts, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; the fall of the Berlin Wall; the release of Nelson Mandela; and the elections of Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Tony Blair and Barack Obama.
Born in Sussex in 1947, he grew up at Ardingly College where his father was headmaster.
In 2013 he revealed in a blog post on the Channel 4 website that he was abducted and abused by a member of staff at the school when he was six years old.
After leaving school he spent a year as a VSO volunteer teaching in Uganda and described it as the most radicalising experience of his life.
Mr Snow interviews Monica Lewinsky at her parents’ New York house in February 1999
He credited a determination to return to Africa with his decision to enter journalism, realising that was the best way to go back.
Some 10 years later, ITN dispatched him to Uganda to cover Idi Amin’s coup.
Over the years he has won awards including the Richard Dimbleby Bafta award for Best Factual Contribution to UK Television and the Royal Television Society awards for Journalist of the Year and is a five-time winner of Presenter of the Year prize.
In 2015 he was honoured with Bafta’s highest accolade, the Fellowship.
Delivering the MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in 2017, he said management at media companies should be shamed into ensuring equal pay for women and called out organisations for lack of diversity across the media.
He also revealed that he had taken a pay cut at the request of Channel 4 and said he felt it was the right thing to do.
Channel 4 said Mr Snow will front ‘longer-form projects’ for the broadcaster from 2022
He sparked controversy in 2019, after a day of rallies and protests relating to Brexit, he said he had ‘never seen so many white people in one place’.
More than 2,700 people complained to regulator Ofcom, making it the most complained-about programme of 2019, and Channel 4 said it regretted any offence caused by the ‘unscripted observation’.
Ofcom found the comment did not breach TV rules.
Earlier this year, Snow, who has two daughters from his relationship with human rights lawyer Madeleine Colvin, announced he and his wife Precious Lunga hd welcomed a child together.
He announced the couple had a baby boy with a surrogate on March 2 after ‘numerous medical setbacks and miscarriages’.
Snow and Lunga, a 46-year-old Zimbabwean academic, tied the knot in 2010.
