Martin Bashir appointed BBC’s Religious Affairs Correspondent

The BBC has announced that award-winning journalist Martin Bashir (53) has been appointed as the new BBC Religious Affairs Correspondent.

 

Martin Bashir will be returning to the BBC having previously worked as a correspondent for BBC News from 1987 until 1992 when he joined the BBC’s flagship investigative programme Panorama until 1999 and presented BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme until 2004. 

Martin was a correspondent for Tonight on ITV before moving to the United States and hosting ABC’s Nightline programme in 2004. In 2010 he joined NBC News as an MSNBC anchor and a correspondent on NBC’s Dateline programme.

He is known for conducting high profile interviews and making ground-breaking, landmark documentaries. He previously presented BBC Radio Four’s Sunday programme and explored the emergence of radical enclaves in Britain following publication of Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses. He has chaired debates on historic faiths and the New Atheist movement, reported on anti-Semitic attacks in Europe and for ABC moderated a televised debate on political correctness entitled ‘Sex and God at Yale’.

As Religious Affairs correspondent, Martin Bashir will report on events and provide analysis and insight on the major themes and issues affecting different faiths in the UK and around the world.

Jonathan Munro, Head of BBC Newsgathering said, “Martin’s track record in enterprising journalism is well known and respected in the industry and amongst our audiences. As a student of theology, Martin will bring immense knowledge of the brief to his new role, and an enthusiasm to cover the broadest range of faith-based stories.”

Martin Bashir said, “I am delighted to be re-joining the BBC at this time and in this subject area. The opportunity to cover the broad spectrum of religious affairs is challenging and compelling and I cannot wait to get started.”