Samira Ahmed to leave Channel 4 News

Channel 4 News presenter and correspondent Samira Ahmed is leaving the broadcaster after 11 years to go freelance.

Ahmed joined Channel 4 News producer ITN in 2000 as a reporter, being promoted to presenter in 2002 on the evening news, weekend programme and News at Noon, before Channel 4 cancelled the latter at the end of 2009.

She was also part of the team behind 2003 documentary Islam Unveiled.

Ahmed started her career as a BBC graduate news trainee in 1990, becoming the broadcaster's Los Angeles correspondent in 1996 and covering the OJ Simpson trial.

She now intends to go freelance as a journalist, broadcaster and writer, and yesterday revealed plans to do some work at BBC Radio 4 on news and current affairs.

"The BBC mothership is beckoning me," Ahmed wrote on Twitter.

Last month, Channel 4 News announced that political correspondent Cathy Newman is to become its third main presenter alongside Jon Snow and Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

The broadcaster's on-screen revamp includes the role of Washington correspondent being handed to BBC presenter Matt Frei, while Newsnight's Jackie Long has been appointed social affairs editor.

Channel 4 News has also poached BBC executive Paul Brannan to head up its online team, driving digital, social media and mobile activity.