Actualités

Exclusive: BBC News has scrapped plans to hire the first royal editor in its history after a messy recruitment process in which the UK broadcaster missed out on its preferred candidate.

Deadline revealed in August that the search had been thrown into doubt after Roya Nikkhah, The Sunday Times royal editor and CBS News contributor, decided to stay put at the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper.

Richard Burgess, director of news content at BBC News, announced that the recruitment process had been abandoned in an email to staff this week. The email detailed structural newsroom changes as part of plans to close 130 journalism roles.

Burgess said: “Like many other media organisations, we need to adapt to new audience challenges, and we continue to operate against a very difficult financial picture across the BBC. This means our newsroom must continue to evolve.”

BBC News’ search became a months-long saga after the corporation initially passed over two internal candidates.

Exclusive: BBC News’ search for its first royal editor has been thrown into uncertainty after the British broadcaster missed out on its top candidate.

Sources told Deadline that Roya Nikkhah, The Sunday Times royal editor and CBS News contributor, was BBC News’ preferred pick, but she has decided to stay put at the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper.

Nikkhah was highly regarded by the BBC having featured in prestige coverage, including commentating on Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee alongside David Dimbleby. Nikkhah declined to comment.

Two people familiar with the process argued that it had become a “debacle” after the BBC turned away other candidates before Nikkhah elected to stick with The Sunday Times.

Interviews for the role took place in June, with other candidates thought to include ITV News’ royal editor Chris Ship and Rhiannon Mills, Sky News’ royal correspondent.

Nikkhah’s decision has raised questions about BBC News’ appetite...

Exclusive: BBC News’ search for its first royal editor has been blown wide open after the British broadcaster passed over two leading internal candidates.

The BBC has advertised the royal editor post externally for the first time, just days after it was expected to be offered to either Mark Easton, BBC News’ home editor, or royal correspondent Daniela Relph.

The prestige on-air role is likely to attract interest from high-profile external candidates, with BBC sources already speculating that Roya Nikkhah, The Sunday Times royal editor and CBS News contributor, would be the candidate to beat, should she wish to apply.

There is anger, however, that Easton and Relph have been overlooked. “The whole thing stinks,” said an insider familiar with the process. A second person added: “Daniela and Mark are very very unhappy.”

Several sources said Easton, a vastly experienced BBC journalist, was asked to complete a written test as part of his application process,...

Exclusive: BBC News is close to crowning its first royal editor after narrowing the field of candidates down to a final two.

Deadline understands that the prestige on-air role is expected to be offered to either Mark Easton, BBC News’ home editor, or royal correspondent Daniela Relph.

The successful candidate will step into a newly-created role, but effectively replaces Nicholas Witchell, who retired as a BBC royal correspondent after 25 years.

Easton has little experience of covering the royal family, but has been home editor since 2004, overseeing major stories including the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Sources said Easton could bring a “more ballsy” approach to the BBC’s royal output, with the corporation sometimes seen as being cautious in its coverage of the royal family.

Relph has reported on the royals for more than a decade and appeared on the BBC’s News at Six bulletin on the day Kate Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis.

Exclusive: BBC News is gearing up to hire its first royal editor, with potential candidates emerging as the broadcaster looks to capitalize on soaring audience interest in the British monarchy.

BBC News has traditionally appointed royal correspondents, but the corporation has decided to elevate the role after Nicholas Witchell, a 25-year veteran of the beat, announced he will retire in 2024.

Insiders believe that it will be the first time in the corporation’s history it has installed a royal editor. Jean Seaton, the BBC’s official historian, was unaware of the broadcaster previously having the position.

Recruitment is expected to begin early next year, with the chosen candidate taking their place alongside household names including political editor Chris Mason and international editor Jeremy Bowen.

Speculation is already mounting over who may land the post, which will catapult a journalist into the heart of BBC coverage of key national moments including royal events and deaths.