ITV News star confirms move to rival channel for major new role after four years
AN ITV News star has confirmed they are moving to a rival channel for a major new role after four years.
Anushka Asthana has been Deputy Political Editor for ITV News since July 2021.
But now she is moving to Channel 4 News, where she is taking up a new role as US Editor.
She will be a familiar face to UK audiences, having co-hosted ITV’s Peston, and she previously presented BBC Radio 4’s Week in Westminster.
For her new role, Anushka will relocate to Washington DC to present the network’s US coverage.
Anushka said: “I am thrilled to be appointed US Editor of Channel 4 News, and join such an exceptional team at a pivotal moment for US and global politics.
“It’s a newsroom known and loved the world over, renowned for its distinctive, agenda-setting journalism, on some of the biggest stories of our time.
“Public service journalism has never been more vital, and I look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of Channel 4 News in bringing world-class reporting to a global audience.”
She also shared the news on her X account on Thursday morning and captioned it: “Some personal news!”
The presenter was immediately congratulated by her followers and fellow journalists, with BBC’s Political and Investigations Correspondent Joe Pike writing: “Congratulations Anushka! What an adventure you’ll have.”
While Sky‘s Ed Conway added: “Congrats Anushka!”
Meanwhile a fan added: “Many congratulations! Peston will never be the same without your superb contributions.”
She succeeds Siobhan Kennedy who has served supremely as US correspondent for six years.
Esme Wren, Editor of Channel 4 News said: “Anushka is truly one of the UK’s brightest political talents, performing at the top of her game to deliver agenda-setting coverage on some of the biggest stories of the day.
“We are delighted she’ll be joining us at this vital moment for American and international politics, with her craft, expertise and journalistic enterprise.
“Her commitment to bringing new audiences to trusted, public service news reflects the spirit of Channel 4 News, and I know she’ll take us forward in engaging global audiences in our operations from the US.
“I want to thank Siobhan for her truly outstanding commitment to this brief over the past six years, with her signature tenacity that I know she’ll inject back here in the UK.”
Anushka will join Channel 4 News in the summer.