that's a wrap
BBC viewers pay tribute to beloved news presenter as she hosts last ever show after 23 years
BBC NEWS viewers have paid tribute to one of the station's beloved presenters as she hosted her last ever show.
Joanna Gosling left fans emotional as she anchored her final ever bulletin for the Beeb today.
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The 52-year-old has been a presenter for the broadcaster for 23 years, but has now taken voluntary redundancy as the BBC plans to merge its domestic and international news channels.
"Now it's just about time for me to say goodbye," Joanna told viewers.
"I'm signing off after 23 years at BBC News and before I go there are just a few things that I wanted to say.
"I know this job is personal, we come directly into your home to tell you what's happening, good, bad, funny, sad.
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"In doing my work I always consider how you might be responding to the news you're hearing and what you might want to know.
"But your response to me leaving has been completely unexpected and I've been really touched by the wave of warmth and kindness from you and I want to say thank you for all your good wishes, it really has meant a lot to me."
She also thanked the people who shared their stories with her during her career, as she revealed many of them had an "impact" on her and "shaped the way she sees things".
Joanna ended her broadcast as she thanked her BBC News colleagues before getting teary and receiving a round of applause.
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Her departure comes as two other hosts quit the show after reportedly being forced into "humiliating" auditions to keep their jobs.
Taking to social media, fans wished the presenter well and described her as an 'asset' to the news service.
"Good luck to you Joanna you will be sorely missed but wishing you well for the future," said one viewer.
Another posted: "I’ll be very very sad to see you leave today. Love and best wishes to you always for your future plans."
"It is nice to see you today, my TV will not be the same when you go," said a third.
While a fourth commented: "You are the BBC’s greatest asset."
Gosling, David Eades and Tim Willcox have taken voluntary redundancy after the BBC revealed its plans to merge its international and UK news channels.
It was previously reported that more than a dozen presenters could lose their positions due to a rebrand which will see the BBC News and BBC World News channels merged.
The BBC is expecting to save more than £1million a year by cutting the numbers of presenters, but hopes to find new roles for some of those affected.
The move means there will be no dedicated domestic news service for viewers in the UK from the spring.
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The merged channel will broadcast from London in the daytime and Singapore and Washington at other times.
Gosling made headlines recently when she fought back tears while reporting on the deaths of three young boys in Solihull.
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