Mishal Husain is set to leave Radio 4’s Today programme after 11 years, it has been reported.
The 51-year-old presenter is believed to have been having talks with bosses at the BBC about moving to a new role at the corporation, once she departs her current job.
Husain, who joined Today in 2013, is believed to be filming abroad at the moment, but is due back on the Radio 4 news show in the near future.
The presenter, who is highly regarded within the corporation, will reportedly be on air until the new year.
According to The Times, in January she is likely to take up a long-service benefit which lets people take up to five weeks of extra paid leave if they have been working at the BBC for more than 25 years.
It is not clear if she will return fully to the Today programme after that leave has been taken.
One insider told the paper: ‘After 11 years Mishal has reached the point where the 3.30am alarm call is no longer a welcome noise.’
They added: ‘She is very highly thought of and there will be an extremely big effort to make sure she’s accommodated well elsewhere.’
Mishal Husain is set to leave BBC Radio 4s flagship Today programme after 11 years on the show, according to reports
Bosses are reportedly in talks with the 51-year-old presenter about a new role at the Corporation
In June, the presenter had given a hint she may leave the show soon, when she told The Sunday Times she was ‘thinking about what is beyond Today’
She had said: ‘I’m wondering what the next act of my career might look like.’
Husain added: ‘I’ve been very lucky to work with great colleagues for many years.’
Among the names being touted as a replacement are BBC Europe Editor, Katya Adler, 52, and Anushka Asthana, 44, ITV News’ deputy political editor.
There has been speculation in recent months that Husain has not taken to recent addition to the presenting line-up Emma Barnett. But there is no evidence this is linked to her departure.
One industry source told the Mail: ‘She [Mishal] has not been terribly happy since Emma came.’
A BBC spokesman declined to comment on whether Husain was leaving the show.
Husain started out as a city reporter for English language outlet The News in Islamabad, Pakistan, at 18.
After working at Bloomberg Television, she joined the BBC in 1998 as a junior producer for News 24 (now BBC News).
Husain presenting the BBC election debate last summer between Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak
BBC Europe editor Katya Adler, 52, is among names being touted as possible replacements for Husain
She previously served as the channels Washington correspondent during the Iraq invasion, and occasionally anchors the News At Ten on weekdays.
Last summer, she chaired two general election debates including a head-to-head clash between Sir Keir Starmer and then PM Rishi Sunak.
However in September, the presenter came under criticism for failing to sufficiently challenge antisemitic comments made by Today guest American-Iranian political analyst Mohammad Marandi.
Following a backlash from Jewish organisations, the BBC admitted it should have continued to challenge Marandis language during the live interview.