BBC newsreader Simon McCoy has confirmed that he will be leaving the channel after nearly 18 years.
The 59-year-old television veteran took to social media to reveal that he was leaving his role, while viewers expressed their dismay at his departure and wished him luck in the future.
"After 18 years… last day today," Simon - famed for his sarcasm on-air - confirmed when quizzed by a social media follower.
It came after the BBC floor manager penned a touching message to reflect upon Simon's legacy with the BBC team.
"If you think he's a handful on-screen, imagine what he's like off it? Only got to floor manage 4 years of his 17+ at @BBCNews so was nice to do his final week. Made the dreariest of heavy news days instantly more manageable. May the road rise up to meet you @BBCSimonMcCoy. Sláinte," Niall Jackson wrote.
Sam Taylor from the BBC, confirmed the news of Simon's departure to The Mirror in a statement.
It read: “Sharp, funny and a great colleague - it has been a delight to have Simon at the helm of the BBC News Channel and BBC News at One. We’ll miss his one-liners, pregnant pauses and commitment to breaking news in every form, and wish him the very best for the future.”
Simon has worked for the BBC since 2004 when he assumed a role with the morning team on BBC news alongside Kate Silverton.
Throughout his 18-year tenure across BBC News, he has become renowned for his hilarious gaffes and unique presenting style.
Among some of his memorable moments when presenting the news, was a time when he had a witty response to a clip of Boris Johnson talking about making and painting buses in his spare time.
"I wonder what he writes on the side of it,” Simon joked, in a dig at the PM.
Elsewhere, he took a hilarious swipe at Prince William and Kate Middleton when it was announced that the Royal couple were expecting Prince Louis.
He said at the time: “Now, baring in mind that they announced that she was pregnant back in September and it was thought that she was around two or three months pregnant, I’m not sure how much news this really is.”
"But anyway, it's April so clear your diaries, get the time booked off 'cause that's what I'm doing."
At the birth of Prince George, he also stood outside the hospital and then went on to comment about the apparent lack of news.
Other memorable moments include when he presented a segment while holding a bundle of photocopier paper - after apparently mistaking it for an iPad.
At the time, a spokeswoman for BBC News even had to explain the bizarre moment, saying: "This morning as Simon McCoy was preparing to introduce this story, instead of picking up his tablet to hold as he went to air, he mistakenly picked up a ream of paper that was sitting next to it.
"In the rush of live news, he didn't have an opportunity to swap the items, so simply went with it."
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