SKY NEWS TO INTRODUCE NEW PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

Sky News are to implement a new primetime schedule this September, with presenters Sophy Ridge, Sarah Jane Mee and new to Sky News, Yalda Hakim.

Following her departure from Sunday mornings, Sophy Ridge will launch a new daily politics programme The Politics Hub with a round-up of all the politics news as well as live interviews from Westminster and the Sky News Politics team.

Sarah Jane Mee, who currently hosts 2-5pm, will be moving to the 8pm slot with new programme called 'The UK'. The hour-long programme will round-up all the news from across the country. Kamali Melbourne will replace Mee in the afternoons from 2pm.

At 9pm, Yalda Hakim joins Sky News as the organisation’s Lead World News Presenter. Hakim will present a new primetime programme as part of a multiplatform offering focused on international news. Yalda is currently a chief presenter for the BBC News channel where she hosts her flagship programme The Daily Global with Yalda Hakim.

The Early Rundown and Breakfast with Kay Burley remain at the usual times of 5am and 7am respectively. The Early Rundown provides a comprehensive round-up of all the big stories of the morning, with big name guests joining Kay Burley for analysis and reports later throughout the morning.

The biggest change implemented last month to the daytime schedule is that Ian King Live, which previously aired for one hour from 10am, will revert back to being two half-hour shows at 11:30am and 4:30pm. The show will be renamed 'Business Live'.

Yalda Hakim, said: “I am honoured and excited to be joining Sky News as lead world news presenter. I have long admired Sky for its smart, fearless and world-class reporting. At a time when global media must work harder than ever to earn the confidence of our viewers, I look forward to giving my all as part of one of the most talented and accomplished news teams anywhere.”

David Rhodes, Executive Chairman Sky News Group, said:  "We’re so excited to have Yalda join Sky as our lead world news presenter. Sky News has always featured an award-winning international news report, with Alex Crawford, Stuart Ramsay, Dominic Waghorn, and so many colleagues on the front lines of our coverage every day. Yalda bolsters this multi-platform presentation—her professional accomplishments and personal journey make her an ideal addition to our newsroom.”

Sky News is available on Sky channel 501.