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Kirsty Wark is being celebrated after presenting BBC’s Newsnight for the last time after 30 years on the present.
Wark announced the decision to leave in October last year, as she promised to give up after the subsequent election, which has simply handed.
The 69-year-old wiped away tears as she signed off for a final time on Friday (12 July). She is the longest-serving presenter of the BBC Two present affairs programme.
Newsnight created a particular compilation of the presenter’s journey since she joined in 1993, together with clips of her interviewing world leaders interspersed with extra light-hearted moments from her profession.
The video was rounded off with a collection of tributes from Tony Blair, Nicola Sturgeon, Gordon Brown and Lord David Cameron. Her BBC colleagues Emily Matilis and Victoria Derbyshire additionally joined in the send-off, together with touching messages from her youngsters.
TV chef Nigella Lawson joined in the reward on-line as she wrote, “What a career! A really touching tribute here” on X/Twitter.
Former prime minister Tony Blair referred to as Wark, “tough but fair and always exceptionally smart” as he wished her luck and added “I’m sure you’ll carry on doing great things.”
Meanwhile, Lord Cameron made a joke at his personal expense, as he referred to his comeback as overseas secretary following his resignation as prime minister.
![Wark leaves the show after 30 years](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/07/13/12/Screenshot-2024-07-13-at-12.47.07.jpg)
“Kirsty, many congratulations on over three decades of presenting Newsnight. You have questioned us, quizzed us, held us to account and often terrified us,” he mentioned.
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“But a great record, many congratulations. Now you’re retiring but you can always retire after a long career and then make a comeback, best wishes, well done with everything.”
![Maitlis called Wark ‘the Queen of Newsnight’](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/07/13/12/newFile-1.jpg)
Former SNP chief Sturgeon added, “To say you are a broadcasting titan, obviously across the UK, but particularly here in Scotland would be an understatement. It’s hard to imagine that landscape without you.
“I had a very, very first interview experience with you when I was just 17 or 18 years old. I was in awe of you then and it’s fair to say that hasn’t really changed.”
Emily Maitlis joined in the tributes as she referred to as Wark, the “Queen of Newsnight”, including, “We love you and we wish you well”.
![Wark was left in tears as she signed off](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/07/13/10/5rBctXwC-720.jpg)
BBC radio 4 presenter Kavita Puri added to the reward on-line as she referred to as her colleague “a broadcasting legend and a much beloved colleague and friend to so many of us at Newsnight.”
Wark will proceed to current BBC reveals together with The Reunion, Start The Week on Radio 4, in addition to documentaries.