Sally Magnusson to leave Reporting Scotland

Reporting Scotland presenter Sally Magnusson is to stand down from the programme after 27 years.

The journalist and author joined the news programme in 1998, when it was broadcast from the BBC Scotland's former headquarters in Glasgow's Queen Margaret Drive.

She will continue to present until April and then work with the BBC as a freelance.

Magnusson described leaving Reporting Scotland as a "real wrench", adding "I'll miss the buzz and challenges of live news".

She was part of the team that moved to BBC Scotland's new building at Pacific Quay and anchored many major stories for the corporation, including the deaths of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II.

Magnusson started in journalism at The Scotsman newspaper in 1979.

Her mother, Mamie Baird, was a newspaper journalist in Glasgow and her father, Magnus Magnusson, was a print journalist, historian and broadcaster best-known as the presenter of the BBC's Mastermind.

She started in television on BBC Scotland's Current Account programme and then on network news programmes including Sixty Minutes and Breakfast.

Magnusson returned to Scotland to present Reporting Scotland two days a week. Other television programmes included Newsnight Scotland, Panorama and Songs of Praise as well as Sunday Mornings on BBC Radio Scotland.

Her most recent television documentary for BBC Scotland was Alzheimer's, a Cure and Me which aired last year.

Magnusson is also an acclaimed author. Among her books is a biography of the Scottish runner and missionary Eric Liddell, an account of her mother's dementia, and three novels.

She is the founder of the charity Playlist for Life, which promotes the use of music to help people with dementia. She was awarded an MBE in 2023 in recognition of her charity work

Magnusson said standing down from Reporting Scotland did not mean she was retiring.

"Leaving Reporting Scotland will be a real wrench after 27 years. I'll miss the buzz and challenges of live news presentation, which I've always adored," she said.

"But although my focus now turns to a growing writing career, an expanding family and my work around dementia, I'm also looking forward to maintaining links with the BBC as a freelance broadcaster."

Gary Smith, head of news and current affairs at BBC Scotland, paid tribute to Magnusson and her work on the programme.

"Sally is an outstanding journalist, broadcaster and writer," he said.

"She has skilfully guided viewers through countless big and sometimes difficult stories and the teatime audience will miss her hugely - as will all of us who have worked with her over the years."