Steerpike Steerpike

Finding freedom: BBC exodus continues

Newsnight

Will the last BBC presenter to leave please turn out the lights? Lewis Goodall of Newsnight is the latest star to leave W1A, joining the Beeb tribute act over at Global Radio, owners of LBC. In recent months, other stars to have made such a journey include Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, Andrew Marr, Eddie Mair and producer Dino Sofos. Such a move means, in the words of the Guardian’s Jim Waterson, ‘More money, more editorial freedom, less scrutiny.’

Departing the BBC means that Goodall is, at last, free to share his political views

Departing the BBC means that Goodall is, at last, free to share his political views that have been so well-concealed to date. The former Labour political activist has had more than his share of controversies since taking up his Newsnight post. They include multiple rows with the Mail on Sunday about his ‘anti-government’ bias on Twitter and likening Boris Johnson to Enoch Powell, which prompted ministers to threaten a boycott of his show.

Now Goodall will be allowed to write more critical articles for platforms like the New Statesman without fear of falling foul of the BBC censors. Such freedoms have also been embraced by Andrew Marr — who has launched a series of increasingly personal attacks on Boris Johnson on LBC in recent months — while Emily Maitlis will now be free to deliver her monologues without fear of a complaints backlash. The latter left months after the Corporation upheld one against her for retweeting a critical post about the UK’s Covid strategy.

The BBC has always prided itself on (supposedly) hiring a diverse range of voices from across the spectrum but all those departing appear to have sympathies with the left, to date. Steerpike can’t wait for all those hordes of teaming Tories and boss-eyed Brexiteers at the Beeb to make their views known when they depart too…

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