BBC News presenter flooded with support as they announce 'much needed break'

23 August 2023 , 07:21

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BBC News presenter Rich Preston confirmed he will be missing from screens for the foreseeable future (Image: BBC)

BBC News presenter Rich Preston has revealed he is taking some time away reading the headlines as he explained he has a "deadline" of his own to work towards.

The BBC World TV presenter is currently studying a Masters at university and told fans he needed to take some time off away from the BBC newsroom to focus on his studies.

He tweeted: "Thanks for your company this last week @BBCNews. We've had England beat Australia - then lose to Spain, drone strikes on Moscow, and the Letby verdict. I have my own big deadline this week, my Masters dissertation due Thursday ! Then taking a much-needed break! See you soon."

One supportive fan replied: "Good luck," to which Rich added: "Thanks, David! It’s on the political use of secret intelligence for my MA in International Security and Intelligence."

The BBC News presenter has taken a break from TV (BBC)

Another BBC News viewer remarked: "Wow, all the best with the dissertation," and a third wrote: "How do you combine being the most elegant news reader on the BBC with studying for a Masters?!"

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Someone else tweeted: "Good luck with completing your Masters dissertation Rich! All my best!" And another viewer said: "Keep writing and editing I promise it will end ….. honest!"

The BBC Word presenter previously covered western Europe and reported on significant events such as the migrant crisis, the Scottish Independence Referendum, terror attacks in France and Belgium, and the UK’s Brexit vote.

Rich is also the host of BBC Topline, a daily global news briefings show for US breakfast radio and appears regularly on other major international news outlets away from the BBC to be questioned on big world events. In the past this has included ABC in Australia, RNZ in New Zealand, and news networks in the US, Singapore, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Meanwhile, the senior BBC foreign news journalist's report on the death of a man from a mysterious new disease in China was the first TV news piece by an international broadcaster on what became the coronavirus pandemic.

Charlotte McIntyre