Christiane Amanpour announces she is leaving CNN after 43 years

CNN’s chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour has announced that she is leaving the network.

London-born Amanpour, 68, who has become a household name worldwide as a foreign correspondent, will be signing off in June.

In a statement, Amanpour – who has hosted a nightly interview programme on CNN International since 2009 – told viewers: “After thinking carefully for several months and experiencing a few sleepless lights, as you can imagine, I’ve decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years – longer than many marriages.

“So this daily show on CNN and PBS will come to an end at the end of this year but CNN and I have worked out a smooth transition while continuing doing Amanpour once a week through to June.”

In a memo to colleagues on Monday, CNN chairman Mark Thompson described her as “one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere”.

He wrote: “Christiane has thought carefully about this decision, and she and I have been discussing it for some months.

“Like so many CNNers who will hear the news today, I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally.”

He also thanked her for “43 extraordinary years of remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship”.

In January 2025, she scaled back to hosting a few days a week.

From January 2027, the programme will shift to once a week, until it ends in May, CNN said.

She will continue reporting and travelling the world for CNN through June.

In her statement, Amanpour thanked “all the amazingly talented people I’ve worked with throughout this incredible journey,” especially her show teams and field crews.

Sher said: “From my very first big exciting assignment covering the First Gulf War, to the horrors of the Bosnian War, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran and all the points in between, it’s the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much.”

She added that “as we together battled to seek the facts, the evidence and the humanity, so that CNN could always broadcast the truth about the world and to the world, without fear nor favour”.

She was made a CBE “for services to journalism” by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007.