Andrew Marr announces departure from BBC after 21 years as he moves to rival in bid to ‘get my own voice back’
Andrew Marr has announced he is leaving the BBC after 21 years, saying he is "keen to get my own voice back".
The veteran journalist, 62, said he would now focus on writing and presenting political and cultural shows for Global and writing for newspapers.
He added that moving to the London-based media company offered him a "new freedom" to do "fast-paced, very regular political journalism on LBC with no filter".
Marr joined the BBC in May 2000 as political editor and later spent 16 years at the helm of his own Sunday morning show.
Born in Glasgow, he began his career at The Scotsman in 1981 – working as a trainee junior business reporter and later, parliamentary correspondent before moving on to The Independent – later becoming its editor and The Economist.
He tweeted: "Personal announcement. After 21 years, I have decided to move on from the BBC. I leave behind many happy memories and won
derful colleagues. But from the New Year I am moving to Global to write and present political and cultural shows, and to write for newspapers.
"I think British politics and public life are going to go through an even more turbulent decade, and as I've said, I am keen to get my own voice back.
"I have been doing the Andrew Marr Show every Sunday morning for 16 years now and that is probably more than enough time for anybody!"
In a subsequent statement, he added: "Coming to Global gives me a new freedom – to do fast-paced, very regular political journalism on LBC with no filter, in entirely my own voice."
Marr will host an opinionled programme on LBC which will see him "give his view on the biggest issues of the moment" alongside guests, Global said.
He will also present a new programme on Classic FM, playing music and interviewing guests from the world of politics and arts, host a weekly podcast on Global Player and write a regular column for the LBC website.
BBC director-general Tim Davie said Marr had been a "brilliant journalist and presenter" during his time at the BBC.