Sky News -broadcaster Kay Burley has announced that after 36 years she will retire from the channel.
The 64-year-old, who has treated everything, from the death of Diana, Princess of Wales to the attacks of 11 September, made the shock alley this morning after closing what her last Sky News breakfast turned out to be today.
She made the announcement at the end of the program without notification – looking back on a remarkable career in the vanguard of News that was part of the team that SKY News launched in 1989.
The staff was informed of her plans immediately after she had made the announcement in the air – after Sky -Bazen decided it was appropriate that she would break the story herself.
The presenter, reported to earn at least £ 600,000 a year from 2020, said shortly before 10 am at the end of the show: 'Just before we end the program today, a few moments to think about the past 36 years here At Sky News – Our birthday today.
'It was an honor and a privilege to collaborate with some of the best and hardest working teams in the industry.
'News of his nature is often devastating and together we have treated so many life -changing events – of the tragic death of Diana, the shocking terror attack of 9/11; the Asian tsunami; The Concorde air disaster.
'But we also enjoyed a number of beautiful high notes, right? The Thrill of London wins the opportunity to organize the 2012 Olympic Games; An abundance of royal weddings; Jubilees and those days and days and days can wait until royal babies arrive at the Lindo wing, “she said with a knowing smile.
Kay Burley unexpectedly revealed that she has presented her last Sky News Breakfast program – and will retire after 36 years
Her shock announcement was made this morning at the end of the Sky News Breakfast program – viewed by members of the team from the side of the stage
Kay Burley (depicted on the right) was one of the original presenters of the canal when it was launched by Rupert Murdoch in 1989
She continued: 'But after more than a million minutes of live TV news – more than anyone in the world – it's time for me to enjoy some of my other passions – including my love for travel.
“So, after treating 12 separate general elections – including the victory of Sir Keir Starmer last year – I am retired from Sky News.”
She joked: “Let politicians of each party just look forward to that news.”
Kay added the shock announcement: 'Thank you for waking up and coordinating every morning. I can't tell you how much I have appreciated your support in the past three and a half decades. You are great.
'I will post more on my social media and I hope to see you. Please keep in touch. '
When she finished speaking, she was welcomed by members of the Sky News team, some of whom filmed her final remarks from the side of the stage.
David Rhodes, chairman of Sky News, shared a letter with staff after the news that Kay Burley retires after 36 years from Sky News, because he confirmed that it was her last day in the air today.
He said: 'Talk to Kay about her plans, we all thought it was more appropriate that Kay broke this story herself. She has now done that in her own words, and we will share the clip on social channels today.
“One of the founders of Sky News, Kay helped to build our proposition of the launch in 1989. She is constantly present on our scenes in the course of our 36 years.”
He added: 'I am sure that some MPs in Westminster will sleep easily, knowing that they will not be confronted with her indomitable questions in the morning.
'Kay confirmed that today was her last broadcast with Sky News. Of course breakfast continues – with the other current presenters and with our Friday -Sunday team.
'We thank Kay for her enormous contribution to Sky, to the art of the interview and British journalism. And we wish her good luck. '
Burley depicted in 1997 in addition to colleague presenters Laurie Mayer, Adam Boulton and Martin Stanford prior to the general elections
A Headshot from June 2000 from Kay Burley. She quickly settled as a reliable figure for Sky and has been paramount in breaking stories for the canal for decades
Kay Burley, visible as a red hair shock, outside Uxbridge Magistrates Court protests with the Associated Press photographer Kirsty Wigglesworth after allegedly struck by a camera during a MediaChrum for the appearance of Naomi Campbell
Kay Burley speaks with Sir Keir Starmer at the Labor Party Conference 2023. Sky News -Baas David Rhodes joked today: 'I am sure that some MPs in Westminster will easily sleep, knowing that they will not experience in the morning'
Kay Burley (left) with her colleague Beth Rigby (right) outside Downing Street in 2019
Kay was born in Wigan in 1960 and got her start as a CUB reporter for the Wigan Evening Post and Chronicle before he worked for both the BBC and Tyne Tees Television and later TV-AM before he came to Sky in 1988.
Then she joined the young Sky News -Canal prior to the launch of 1989 and has since become the face of the canal for the world's biggest news stories.
She anchored late afternoon shows and became the reliable figurehead of the canal for the coverage of important and developing stories – from terror attacks and natural disasters to royal births and weddings.
But her career was also sprinkled with controversy and accusations of insensitivity.
In 2008 she collided with Associated Press photographer Kirsty Wigglesworth outside Uxbridge Magistrates Court after she was hit by a camera in the cheek.
Witnesses said that the Ancherman 'had her hands around the photographer' in a 'really vicious' attack while for position in the MediaSchrum for supermodel Naomi Campbell, which appeared on attacks.
In 2012 she was further criticized for revealing live in the air to volunteers looking for a missing girl April Jones that the Welsh younger was probably dead.
The broadcaster also made pop star Peter Andre cry during a live interview by asking how he would feel if Katie Price's now wanted to adopt ex-husband Alex Reid his children.
She later apologized to the mysterious girls' singer – but was released from accusations of bullying by Regulator ofcom, who said that her interrogation had been “persistent and sought under” instead of “intimidating.”
Kay was also sampled for a tweet in which she said that a dog was 'sorrow in his eyes' after the terror attack of Paris in November 2015.
She was suspended from her flagship Kay Burley @breakfast -show at the height of the Coronavirus Pandemie after it appeared that she had broken Tier 2 Lockdown restrictions in London.
She threw herself a 60th birthday party in her house in Knightsbridge, Central London – in violation of rules that banned social meetings.
Kay Burley's fame as Ankerman brought other opportunities – including a place in the second series of Dancing on Ice (left) and the Chase (right)
Kay Burley depicted in 2022 at an Action for Children Charity Event. The newsreader has been an eternal TV for more than three decades
Junior colleagues would have recruited a paparazzi photographer to take pictures of her hugging presenter Beth Rigby – who also took the time – to leak the story to the media via an anonymous e -mail address.
Kay was further criticized during the search query Nicola Bulley, who disappeared in January 2023, for hosting an on-Air segment in which she withdrew the last known steps of the mother in real time while giving real-time commentary.
Her fame as Omroep also led to her competition in the Celebrity Skating Show of ITV, Dancing On Ice, as well as the celebrity of Channel 4 chased.
She gave her Dancing on Ice Fee to Macmillan Cancer Care in memory of her mother Kath, who died of breast cancer in 1993. Her grandmother died of the same condition when Kath 18 was.
Kay is wearing a gene that makes her particularly susceptible to the development of cancer, and her younger sister, Jacqueline, has been diagnosed with the disease in recent years.
Jacqueline received the All-Clear last month, which encouraged a joyful Kay to write on Instagram: 'The best of news. My baby sister Jacqueline is cancer -free. '
Twice married – Once with colleague reporter Steve Burley, then with former football agent Steve Kutner – she has a son, Alexander Kutner, 31, who was born in April 1993.
Tribute has been paid to Kay's career by other media giants, including former BBC producer Sam Mcalister, credited for securing the notorious Prince Andrew interview in 2019, who 'an absolute icon … smart as hell, sharp as they come. “
Kay had denied reports that she was planning to leave her breakfast show that arose in December after he had taken over from Sunrise-Gastheer Sarah-Jane in 2019.
She then told MailOnline about the rumors she left: “Not that I am aware, unless you tell me something new.”
This is a breaking story – more to follow.
