Natasha Kaplinsky leaves BBC for Five

07/10/2007 12:48

By Peter Griffiths

LONDON (Reuters) - Newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, one of the BBC’s best known presenters, is to leave the corporation after five years to join commercial rival, Five.

Bosses at Five poached the 35-year-old to host their flagship evening news bulletins at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

She replaces Kirsty Young, who left Five News in the summer to focus on presenting BBC radio’s "Desert Islands Discs".

Kaplinsky is the second female newsreader to leave the BBC this week. On Wednesday, it was announced that Moira Stuart was leaving after more than 30 years.

Kaplinsky said: "After five incredibly rewarding years at the BBC, I found the chance to work with the team at Five too exciting to pass up."

After reading English at Oxford, Kaplinsky worked for ITV regional news programmes before joining Sky News.

She went on to work with Dermot Murnaghan on BBC One’s "Breakfast" show before stints on all the BBC TV news bulletins.

She became one of the BBC’s best known faces after appearing on a string of other shows, including "Children In Need", "Strictly Come Dancing" and "Who Do You Think You Are?".

BBC head of news Helen Boaden described her as "a warm and intelligent presenter, who has built a great rapport with audiences".

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Five News Editor David Kermode said: "She is a great communicator and has a really distinctive style that sets her apart."

After its launch in 1997, Five became known for its modern news bulletins, with newsreaders perched on desks or walking round the studio.

Reports last week said the channel is putting newsreaders back behind desks because the "walkabout" has been copied so much it has become a cliche.

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