BBC News star showered with support as she pays emotional tribute to show ahead of last broadcast

A BBC News star was showered with support after she paid an emotional tribute to the show ahead of her last broadcast.

It was confirmed earlier this year that BBC News and BBC World News would be merging.

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The move to combine its UK and International teams means a number of presenters have taken voluntary redundancy.

Meanwhile journalist Reeta Chakrabarti took to Twitter today to share a snap of one of her collegues during his final broadcast.

Posting a selfie from behind the cameras while Shaun Ley was on set, Reeta wrote: "It’s a week of last shifts as #BBCNews Channel winds down: @BBCShaunLey doing his final weekday programme - followed by me at 5pm on my last Channel broadcast.

"What a great network it’s been to work for. So long, farewell.."

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Reeta's fans immediately panicked at the thought of not seeing her on their TV screens any more, with one asking: "You're leaving?" alongside a sad gif.

But Reeta replied: ";I’m not - I’ll be solely on BBC1 from next week, not rolling news - as the News Channel merges with BBC World."

Another added: "You will be missed Reeta, you kept me informed all through lockdown when they did the briefings. Xx".

But she reassured them: "Ah those briefings! What an intense and worrying time it was. But I am not leaving, it is the News Channel that is bowing out.."

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A fellow fan wrote: "Lovely lovely Reeta - I shall miss you. x" but she replied: "I’m not going far - now solely presenting on BBC1 - it’s the News Channel that is winding down…Hope you’re well x."

Ahead of the spring launch, the BBC's Lucy Hockings, Christian Fraser, Matthew Amroliwala, Yalda Hakim and Maryam Moshiri were announced as the main presenters.

However, it means a number of well-known faces have lost their presenting roles.

These include Jane Hill, Geeta Guru-Murthy, Martine Croxall, Ben Brown and Annita McVeigh.

Their exits come after Joanna Gosling, David Eades and Tim Willcox took voluntary redundancy and broadcast their final bulletins.