Newsnight's Michael Crick joins Channel 4 News

Newsnight's political editor Michael Crick is leaving the BBC programme after 19 years to rejoin Channel 4 News.

As Channel 4's new political correspondent, Crick will replace Cathy Newman, who was recently promoted to become the third main presenter on the programme alongside Jon Snow and Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

Crick returns to Channel 4 News after being a founding member of the news team in 1982, starting as Washington correspondent, a role recently given to the BBC's Matt Frei.

He joined the BBC in 1990, beginning on Panorama before moving to Newsnight in 1992. He has won two Royal Television Society awards for his coverage of the 1988 US presidential election and for a Panorama on the life of Jeffrey Archer.

At Channel 4 News, Crick will work alongside political editor Gary Gibbon covering all the major political developments and stories. He is the second Newsnight journalist to join the programme, after Jackie Long was appointed social affairs editor.

Jim Gray, the Channel 4 News editor, said: "It's thrilling to have an established, experienced name like Michael join our team. He has a remarkable track record of finding things out that people don't want unearthed.

"He is a formidable investigative journalist. With him in this role, and Gary continuing to lead our coverage as political editor, we have the perfect political team in place."

Crick added: "Channel 4 News has a reputation for an in-depth, analytical and cheeky approach to politics, and I look forward to delivering exactly that.

"Whilst I am sad to leave Newsnight after 19 happy years, I have always admired Gary Gibbon's journalism and it's fantastic to be returning to my ITN roots to join him and the rest of the Channel 4 News team."

Morland Sanders, currently a correspondent for ITV's Tonight and Radio 4, is due to join Channel 4 News as North of England Correspondent. The broadcaster is also currently searching for the first ever dedicated weather presenter in its 29-year history.