BBC News presenter retires after 47 years and infamous King Charles slip

03 October 2023 , 12:46

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Nicholas Witchell is retiring

The BBC's royal correspondent Nicolas Witchell is retiring after five decades of working there.

He has carved out quite the career for himself, even being called an "awful" man by King Charles. The journalist, who had covered the royal family since 1998, will retire next year after joining the broadcaster as a graduate news trainee in 1976.

In 2005, the-then Prince of Wales was caught on a microphone making comments about Witchell who had asked a question about the royal's upcoming nuptials to Camilla Parker Bowles during a photoshoot in the Swiss Alps. He said: "Bloody people. I can't bear that man. I mean, he is so awful, he really is."

Nicolas has had quite the career (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

Talking about his retirement, the BBC said: "After 47 fantastic years we will be bidding farewell to royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell, who will be retiring next year. Nick has reported from across the world and presented key BBC News shows. Thank you for your remarkable service!"

Witchell has become a recognisable face when it comes to royal news – broadcasting the confirmed news of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales on August 31 1997 and providing live radio commentary from outside Westminster Abbey at her funeral.

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The 70-year-old first joined the BBC after finishing a law degree at Leeds University, later becoming a BBC reporter in Northern Ireland in 1979 covering the assassination of Earl Mountbatten and the IRA hunger strikes during his several years in the role.

He then became a news reporter for television news in 1982 where he covered the Falklands conflict, as well as covering Margaret Thatcher's 1983 campaign for the BBC, before returning to Belfast to become the BBC's Ireland correspondent.

Nicolas was one of the original presenters of the Six O'Clock News with Sue Lawley in 1984, before going on to become the main presenter of the re-launched Breakfast News programme from 1989 to 1994. He then later returned to frontline reporting for the BBC for Panorama, and then as the BBC's royal and diplomatic correspondent from 1998.

Charlotte Everett