ITV presenter quits after 36 years admitting ‘it’s one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made’
A NEWS presenter who has been at ITV for 36 years has quit.
Lucy Meacock has revealed her plans to leave ITV Granada Reports stating: “It’s been the best gig for 36 years.”
The host of ITV’s flagship news programme said: “This has been one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made.
“But the time is right to move on now. For me it has always been the best job in the world, with the best people in the world, in the best region in the world!
“I am very grateful that I was given this job so many years ago.
“I have always tried my hardest to make a positive contribution and I hope I will be remembered with some fondness in the years ahead.”
She added: “It has been a complete honour and privilege to serve the people of this region and I will always have the interests of the North West at heart.
“A big thank you to all the people who have appeared on the programme over the years, sometimes when they have been facing some very tough challenges.”
Lucy began her broadcasting career at Tyne Tees TV with the Miners strike in 1984.
Since then she has become a hugely respected presenter and journalist in the North West since 1988.
Joining back in the days of Granada Television Lucy worked on a remarkable variety of programmes, including UpFront, The Late Debate, The Main Ingredient, Origin Unknown, Hearts and Minds and This Morning from Liverpool.
Lucy added: “I’d also like to say a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful people who I have worked with in more than 40 years in TV and thank you to our viewers who have been kind enough to invite us into their homes.
“We have really appreciated that. I have often been overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of our viewers in difficult times, especially when we lost Tony Wilson and Tony Morris.
“What a joy it was to work with them both – I still hear both of them quoted often and I still have their numbers in my phone!
“I have certainly been lucky to work with the best of the best.
“One of the things I have enjoyed the most in my career is seeing the rising stars arrive in the newsroom and flourish. It is one of the reasons I became Chancellor at Salford University. It is their turn now.
“It’s been the best gig for 36 years and as I move on I will be the first to congratulate my successor and wish them, Gamal and the Granada Reports team all the very best for the future. Good night and thank you for watching.”
Lucy Meacock’s final Granada Reports will be on Thursday 1st August 2024 on ITV1 at 6pm.