Kirsty Wark to Present Front Row Weekly from Glasgow After Final Newsnight Episode

BBC presenter Kirsty Wark will bid farewell to her role on BBC Two’s Newsnight in her final episode tonight, marking the end of her tenure as the program’s longest-serving presenter.

Following her departure, Wark will embark on a new journey, presenting one edition of Radio 4‘s Front Row weekly from Glasgow, with her debut episode set to take place live at the Edinburgh Festival on August 13th.

During her time at Newsnight, Wark notably hosted the arts segment Newsnight Review for over a decade, engaging with various cultural figures, including the renowned playwright Harold Pinter.

Joining Wark on Front Row as a fellow presenter from Scotland will be music journalist Kate Molleson, known for her contributions to BBC Radio 3’s programs such as Composer of the Week and the New Music Show.

The program, spanning arts, literature, film, media, and music, will continue to offer a diverse mix of content showcasing prominent events, exhibitions, and shows from across the UK and the world.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Wark stated, “I have always found that people interested in politics are just as interested in culture and vice versa so I see this new role as an extension of everything that I hold dear.”

Mohit Bakaya, the BBC’s Director of Speech, commended the move of Front Row to Glasgow as part of the corporation’s commitment to enhancing production opportunities beyond London and amplifying audio content throughout the UK.

In 2023, the BBC pledged to relocate 50 episodes of Front Row away from London, an initiative aimed at amplifying the content originating from Scotland and Northern Ireland, thus diversifying the broadcasting landscape.

Prior to her departure from Newsnight, journalist Victoria Derbyshire shared a photo with Wark on social media, acknowledging her as she bids adieu to the program.

Over her illustrious career, Wark has conducted notable interviews with figures such as Lord Macpherson, victims of Ariel Castro in the US, and extensively reported from Scotland during tragic events like the Dunblane massacre in 1996.