New Role for Kenyan Journalist as BBC Moves Flagship International Program to Nairobi
BBC World Service has announced a revamp of its flagship international news and current affairs program, Newsday, introducing a new co-presentation model that will split hosting duties between London and Nairobi.
The radio program, which also has a television simulcast, covers live news, business, and sports from around the world, featuring analysis and interviews.
BBC News Africa revealed in a video that the daily show will be co-hosted live from the BBC’s East Africa Bureau starting December 1, 2025.
The corporation further confirmed that the new format aims to better reflect the global audience and diverse perspectives covered by the program.
Veteran Kenyan journalist Anne Soy will step into a lead presenter role for the first time as a new co-host, broadcasting live from Nairobi.
Soy, previously the BBC’s Senior Africa Correspondent, has reported extensively across the continent for over a decade and brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to the anchor desk. She will join existing hosts Rob Young and James Copnall, who will continue to present from the London and Singapore studios.
“Starting 1 December, the show will be co-presented from Nairobi and London. We’re so excited to have Anne Soy join Rob Young and James Copnall as a co-host. Anne’s been reporting across Africa for over 10 years, and now she’s bringing her voice to the Newsday desk,” said BBC News Africa.
Anne Soy profile
As BBC’s Senior Africa Correspondent and Deputy to the Africa Editor, based in Nairobi, Soy reported extensively across the African continent for global and UK domestic TV, radio, and digital platforms.
From 2014 to 2017, she served as the Africa Health Correspondent, where she stood out for her extensive coverage of the Ebola outbreak.
The Kenyan journalist previously worked as a bilingual reporter for the Focus on Africa program before joining the BBC in 2013.
Anne Soy started her journalism career in 2005 at the Kenya Television Network (KTN). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and pursued a Master of Public Health and Epidemiology at Moi University.
Her reporting has received several award nominations, including the Amnesty Awards and the British Journalism Awards.
BBC World Service to co-host Newsday in London and Nairobi
Soy will join Rob Young and James Copnall as existing hosts of the Newsday program, who will continue to present from the London and Singapore studios.
The BBC has assured listeners that, despite the geographical expansion, the program will remain the same program they rely on.
“It’s still the Newsday you love – breaking stories, big conversations, and smart explanations about what’s happening around the world… and why it matters.”
Launch Editor Chakuchanya Harawa said that the significant shift underscores the BBC’s commitment to enhancing its presence and coverage from key global hubs outside of the United Kingdom.
“For Newsday, the audience here in Africa is one of the most important,” he said.
Newsday is a weekday program that serves as a morning show for Asia, an overnight broadcast for Europe/UK, and an evening news program for the Americas. It is scheduled for the 02:00–05:00 GMT slot on the radio, and the TV schedule aligns closely with it.
For most parts of Africa, the weekday broadcast of Newsday airs during the mid-morning local time. Anne Soy on November 27 confirmed that the show’s Nairobi broadcast slot is from 05:00-08:00 GMT.
