Gary Smith to leave BBC Scotland news role

BBC Scotland Head of News, Gary Smith, to stand down after almost a decade in charge…

BBC Scotland’s Head of News and Current Affairs, Gary Smith, has announced he is to leave the role in the summer. Smith has a spent a 40-year journalistic career with the Beeb, apart from a four-year stint at Channel 4 News in the late 80s and early 90s.

“It’s been a privilege to have a front row seat as history was made over the past four decades in Scotland, the UK and the world.  I’ve worked with some brilliant colleagues, been involved in the biggest stories, and had a lot of fun along the way.

“Now the time’s right for a change, to revisit my first love of writing, to give something back to journalism by helping the next generation of reporters, and to have the space to spend more time with my wonderful family,” – Gary Smith

Born and brought up in Glasgow, Smith was educated at Glasgow University before undertaking a post graduate journalism diploma at Cardiff University. He started with the BBC as a news trainee in 1984 before becoming a sub editor with BBC News the following year.

Moving to Channel 4 News in 1989 he worked as a senior political producer, foreign producer and programme editor covering stories such as the departure from Number 10 of Margaret Thatcher, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the civil war in Kashmir. Returning to the BBC in 1992, he worked as assistant editor on the then Nine O’Clock News as well as editor of Political News and UK News Editor.

He took over as Head of News at BBC Scotland in 2016. The corporation confirmed they have started the process to look for a replacement. Paying tribute to Smith, BBC Scotland Director Hayley Valentine said it was hard to overstate his contribution to news journalism and the BBC.

“Gary has steered the newsroom through some huge stories – the EU referendum, several elections, the trial of Alex Salmond, Covid, and the death of her late Majesty the Queen at Balmoral. His relationship with Network News, and the high regard in which he is held there, have made our newsroom all the stronger. At BBC Scotland, he has transformed our digital news offer, overseen the growth of our award-winning investigations department, and most recently launched a suite of new content focussed on reaching diverse audiences in different ways.

“Personally, I will miss Gary terribly – he has not only been a brilliant colleague, but a supportive friend. Crucially, his judgement is second to none and his advice is always worth listening to,” – Hayley Valentine