BBC News’ Simon McCoy reveals he’s leaving after almost 18 years onscreen

BBC Breakfast legend Simon McCoy has revealed today is his last day presenting the news after almost two decades on screen.

The 59-year-old is waving goodbye to the BBC One news show after 18 years on air, as friends and colleagues wished him well on social media.

Fans, friends and colleagues flooded social media to thank Simon for "making heavy news days more manageable"' by being "amazing, funny and brilliant".

BBC News floor manager Niall Jackson wished him luck on his final show, taking to Twitter to reminisce over their four years working together.

"If you think he's a handful on screen, imagine what he's like off it?" Niall joked. "Only got to manage 4 years of his 17+ at BBCNews so was nice to do his final week.

"Made the dreariest of heavy news days instantly more manageable. May the road rise up to you meet you. Sláinte."

Simon confirmed his departure in his response to a fan who asked under Niall's tweet if he was leaving: "After 18 years - last day today."

Newsreader Alex Lovell also chimed in to mark the occasion, writing: "Our amazing, funny and brilliant Simon is leaving the Beeb.

"Simon, I have the pleasure of calling you a colleague and a friend. You'll be so missed on the BBC - good luck with your next adventure."

Head of live and breaking news Sam Taylor chimed in: "Sharp, funny and a great colleague - its been a delight to have Simon at the help of the BBC News Channel.

"We'll miss your one-liners, pregnant pauses and commitment to breaking news in every form."

Simon first joined the BBC in January 2004 and took over the morning slot on BBC News alongside Kate Silverton the following year.

Since then, he's made regular appearances on the weekend news as a stand-in presenter as well as becoming the main presenter of BBC News at One.

Simon became a household name thanks to a viral mistake in 2013, which saw him accidentally pick up a refill pack of A4 printer paper instead of his iPad to present the news.

The hilarious clip did the rounds on social media as the presenter "simply went with it" as he went live on air with the paper stack.

A BBC spokesperson said at the time: "Simon McCoy was preparing to introduce this story, instead of picking up his tablet to hold as he went to air, he mistakenly picked up a ream of paper that was sitting next to it.

"In the rush of live news, he didn’t have an opportunity to swap the items, so simply went with it."

He was also known for his hilariously sarcastic coverage of the birth of Prince George in July 2013, where he presented with little enthusiasm.

While waiting outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital for news of the birth, he told cameras there was a lack of any news at all.

"I'm not sure how much news this is," he later told the BBC cameras in 2017 after the announcement Kate Middleton was expecting her third child, Prince Louis.

Another memorable moment saw Simon dig at Prime Minister Boris Johnson after he explained he makes model buses in his spare time.

In a witty response to the clip played on air, Simon joked: "I wonder what he writes on the side of it."