Emily Maitlis appointed lead Newsnight presenter

Emily Maitlis has been appointed the new lead \'Newsnight\' presenter.

The 48-year-old journalist will head up an all-female team on the BBC Two current affairs programme, alongside Kirsty Wark and BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Emma Barnett, and Emily is "delighted" to have been given the opportunity to work with such an "exceptional team".

She said in a statement: "I am delighted to be moving into this role at a time when \'Newsnight\' feels so pivotal to our understanding of this extraordinary moment in British history, and to be working with such an exceptional team."

The BBC presenter is taking over from political editor and presenter Evan Davis, who left the show last year after taking over from Jeremy Paxman in 2014.

Radio 5 Live presenter Emma will take on her prestigious new role alongside presenting her daily morning radio show, and she is excited to start her new role because there is currently so much uncertainty in British politics.

She added: "I can\'t wait to get started at \'Newsnight\' at a time when no one can predict the next hour in British politics, never mind the next evening."

The programme\'s editor, Esmé Wren, said: "This is a tremendous presenter line-up that sends out a clear signal about the programme\'s growing ambition.

"All three presenters bring substantial political clout and a wealth of expertise across a broad range of subjects."