Maxine Mawhinney leaves BBC News

News presenter Maxine Mawhinney will leave the BBC today after 20 years with the corporation.

“Today I leave BBC News after almost 21 years it’s been an absolute privilege.
Join me – last broadcast 2-5pm. Saying goodbye at 4.50pm,” said Maxine.

Born in Belfast in 1957, Maxine trained as a newspaper journalist in Northern Ireland, then joined BBC Television and Radio in Belfast, before moving to Ulster Television and then ITN in London.

She joined Sky News at its launch in 1989, as Ireland correspondent, remaining for two years before going to Tokyo as News Editor for Asia for Reuters Television.

After two years in Asia, she spent a year in Frankfurt, Germany, for Reuters Television, before being appointed Washington Correspondent for GMTV at its launch in 1992.

In 1996 she returned to London joining the BBC’s international news channel BBC World. She was the duty presenter in the early hours of 31 August 1997 when news broke of the fatal car crash of Diana, Princess of Wales. She can be seen in this role in the 2006 feature film The Queen.

In November 1997 she joined BBC News (then BBC News 24) as one of the launch presenters. Since then she has presented in various timeslots on the channel, including a period in the afternoon slot alongside Matthew Amroliwala and Chris Eakin, before being assigned to Sunday afternoons in April 2006.

UPDATE – Leaving package and chat with Simon McCoy

Business presenter, Ben Thompson, tweeted: Gutted this lovely lady leaves BBC News today. Total pro and total joy to work with. Happy travels far and wide Maxine, see you soon x

Babita Sharma: Lucky enough to produce @maxinemawhinney years ago & learn from the very best. We’re going miss you! x

ITV’S Charlene White: Oh goodness… I hadn’t realised Maxine! Good luck for the future, you will be missed.

Maryam Moshiri: We will miss you so much Maxine ! X

Ricky Boleto: Wishing you lots of success with all your new projects Maxine.

Adam Parsons: The end of an era. It was always a delight to share a studio with Maxine – a fine journalist, superb presenter and a happy, warm person. Xx

Mawhinney is married with two daughters. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2013. She underwent surgery, drug therapy and radiotherapy and was back in the studio in March 2014.