ITV News presenter Alastair Stewart steps down over ‘error of judgement’

ITV News host Alastair Stewart is stepping down from presenting duties “following errors of judgement” in his use of social media.

The veteran presenter, 67, said in a statement he made a “misjudgement which I regret”.

ITN said in the statement that Stewart’s use of social media “breached” its editorial guidelines.

The decision to quit “is supported by both ITV and ITN”.

Stewart said: “It was a misjudgement which I regret, but it’s been a privilege to bring the news to households throughout the UK for the past 40 years.”

Stewart has been a staff reporter and presenter on ITV News programmes.

Recently he has worked as a part-time freelance presenter, mainly on the lunchtime news and weekend programmes.

Michael Jermey, director of news and current affairs at ITV, said: “Alastair has been a long-standing, familiar figure to viewers of ITV News, both reporting and presenting with distinction.

“We wish him the very best for the future.”

ITN chief executive Anna Mallett said: “We would like to recognise Alastair’s contribution as one of the UK’s foremost journalists and TV presenters and to thank him for his commitment to delivering high-quality broadcast news over many years.”