Last updated August 2007
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Newsnight is BBC TWO's flagship current affairs programme.
On air since 30 January 1980, its role is to be thought-provoking and informative, analysing complex issues in-depth with high quality and hard hitting films.
The regular presenters are Jeremy Paxman, Kirsty Wark, Gavin Esler and Emily Maitlis. The Editor is Peter Barron.
Programme history
The founding editor was George Carey and Peter Snow was the first presenter.
Initially, Newsnight was moved around the schedules before getting its regular start time of 10.30pm (Mondays to Fridays).
Peter Snow presented the programme for its first 17 years.
Other presenters have included Peter Hobday, Charles Wheeler, John Tusa, Olivia O'Leary, Francine Stock, Sarah Montague and Jeremy Vine.
Over its 25 year history, Newsnight has developed a reputation for investigative journalism and incisive questioning, including amongst others:
Jeremy Paxman won acclaim for a Newsnight interview he conducted with former Home Secretary Michael Howard in May 1997 – in which he asked the same question 12 times. Mr Howard was asked if he had threatened to overrule the Head of the Prison Service.
In August 2005, Michael Crick reported on how Britain helped Israel develop nuclear weapons in the Fifties – without the United States' knowledge.
A joint investigation with BBC Radio 4's File on Four in October 2005 uncovered information linking the leader of the London Bombers, Mohammed Sidique, with Al Qaeda – and revealed that he had featured in surveillance operations carried out by the intelligence services in 2004.
Newsnight Scotland
On 4 October 1999, Newsnight Scotland was launched.
It runs on BBC TWO Scotland from 11.00pm, Mondays to Thursdays, covering home and international affairs from a Scottish perspective.
The current presenters are Gordon Brewer, John Milne and Anne McKenzie. The Editor is Craig Williams.
Newsnight Review
Newsnight Review, which is on every Friday from 11.00pm, was launched in 2001.
The weekly roundtable arts discussion had already existed for several years on BBC TWO in the guise of Late Review and then Review.
