Two experienced journalists are joining the presenting team of the BBC World Service daily programme Newshour in the new year.
Leila Nathoo and Rajini Vaidyanathan will become part of the line-up on the flagship radio news programme, which brings global interviews, breaking news and analysis of the day’s events to listeners around the world.
Leila joins the World Service from BBC Westminster, where she has been based since 2017 as a political correspondent. During that time, she reported on major moments in British politics including the UK’s departure from the EU and the government’s response to the Covid pandemic. Her work has spanned five prime ministers and three general elections across BBC television, radio and online platforms.
Over the past two years, Leila has also been a regular presenter on Radio 4 programmes including Today, PM and Westminster Hour, as well as on BBC 5Live. Earlier in her career, she spent time as Africa Correspondent in Nairobi and has also reported for the BBC from Delhi.
Rajini will expand her presenting role to work jointly across BBC World Service English and the BBC News Channel. She brings extensive international reporting experience to Newshour, including investigations and interviews with senior political figures.
Most recently, Rajini served as the BBC’s South Asia correspondent, covering India’s general elections, the uprising in Sri Lanka and the Rohingya refugee crisis. She was previously based in Washington DC as a presenter and correspondent, reporting on the US presidential elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump from campaign trail to inauguration. She is now a regular host on the BBC News Channel and presents weekend bulletins on BBC One.
Tim de Faramond, Editor of Newshour, said: “There’s never been a more important time for public service broadcasters to deliver fair and incisive journalism to audiences.”
Leila said she was looking forward to joining the programme and speaking to listeners worldwide, while Rajini described it as “a huge honour” to become part of the Newshour presenting team alongside her continuing television role.
