Stewart Maclean

Stewart Maclean
Nationality	British
Alma mater	University of Manchester
Occupation(s)	journalist, editor
Years active	2004 - present

Stewart Maclean is a British journalist and editor, best known for serving as editor of BBC Newsnight. He has served as the BBC World News Content Africa Bureau Chief since January 2024.

Career

Maclean began his career in 2004 as a graduate trainee at the Daily Mirror, following his graduation from the University of Manchester. ^{[1] [2]} He later worked as a freelance correspondent in South Africa for UK and Irish national newspapers. ^{[2] [3]}

Maclean joined the BBC as a producer on Newsnight in 2012, and moved to ITV News in 2013. He spent several years at ITV News, first as a news editor and later as Head of UK Specialist Journalism. ^{[2] [3]}

In 2017, he returned to the BBC as an assistant editor on Newsnight and was promoted to deputy editor the following year. ^[3] During his tenure as deputy editor, he served as executive producer and oversaw negotiations between Newsnight and Buckingham Palace for the November 2019 interview with Prince Andrew conducted by Emily Maitlis. ^{[2] [3] [4]} In April 2022, Maclean was appointed editor of Newsnight, replacing Esme Wren. ^{[5] [6] [7]} In October 2023, he left that role to move to Nairobi, Kenya as BBC News's Africa bureau chief. ^{[8] [9]} His announcement came amidst speculation about the future of funding for Newsnight, with Maclean acknowledging in an email to colleagues that his move could not have been "timed more badly," but stressing that he was leaving for "deeply personal" family reasons. ^{[8] [10]}

Maclean assumed his current role as BBC World News Content's Africa Bureau Chief in January 2024. ^[2]

In popular culture

The 2019 Prince Andrew interview was dramatized in the Netflix film Scoop , released on 5 April 2024, in which Maclean was portrayed by actor Richard Goulding. ^[11] Maclean was portrayed by Éanna Hardwicke in Amazon MGM Studios' A Very Royal Scandal , a three-part historical drama series released on 19 September 2024 on Amazon Prime Video. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

References

1. Caesar, Ed (16 May 2010). "Hold the front page, I want to be on it". www.thetimes.com.
2. Sundriyal, Diksha (2024-09-19). "Stewart Maclean: Where is the BBC Journalist Now?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
3. "BBC appoints Stewart Maclean as Newsnight Editor". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
4. "How the BBC Secured Their Infamous Prince Andrew Interview". Town & Country. 2022-10-11. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
5. Goldbart, Max (2022-04-19). "BBC's 'Newsnight' Names Prince Andrew Interview Exec Stewart Maclean As Editor". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
6. "BBC announces next editor of Newsnight". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2022-04-19. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2025-06-16.
7. "Stewart Maclean promoted to Newsnight editor". Press Gazette. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
8. "BBC 'Newsnight' Editor Quits Amid Plans To Slash Flagship Current Affairs Show's Budget". Deadline. 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
9. "Newsnight editor Stewart Maclean quits before big cut in budget". www.thetimes.com. 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
10. Rodger, James (2023-10-11). "Newsnight star quits for 'deeply personal' reasons leaving colleagues 'aghast'". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
11. "Get to know Scoop's Stewart Maclean — from Newsnight career to where he is now". The Sun. 2024-04-06. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
12. Fienberg, Daniel (2024-09-19). "'A Very Royal Scandal' Review: Ruth Wilson and Michael Sheen Revisit Prince Andrew's 'Newsnight' Interview in Sturdy Amazon Miniseries". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
13. Foutch, Haleigh (2024-09-20). "'A Very Royal Scandal' Cast vs. Their Real-Life Counterparts | Photos". TheWrap. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
14. "Prince Andrew thanks Emily Maitlis in A Very Royal Scandal preview | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 2025-06-16.