Samira Ahmed to leave Channel 4

Channel 4 News presenter and correspondent Samira Ahmed is to leave after 11 years. Ahmed joined ITN, which makes Channel 4 News, in 2000 as a reporter before adding presenting responsibilities from 2002. She has been a presenter of the evening news, weekend programme and News at Noon – before Channel 4 cancelled it at the end of 2009 – and was part of the documentary team behind 2003's Islam Unveiled. Ahmed intends to go freelance as a journalist, broadcaster and writer. Channel 4 News announced last month that political correspondent Cathy Newman is to become the bulletin's third regular presenter alongside main anchor Jon Snow and co-host Krishnan Guru-Murthy. As part of the on-screen rejig, Channel 4 News also hired Matt Frei and Jackie Long from the BBC to be Washington correspondent and social affairs editor, respectively.