5 News editor Cait Fitzsimons spoke to Press Gazette as she decided to step down after five years, leaving the programme in “strong shape”, according to a Channel 5 boss.

Since February 2018, Fitzsimons has led an outlier in many ways of the UK broadcasting landscape: 5 News does not have its own website, it is the smallest national newsroom with a staff of around 55, and its daily TV news programme is on at the early teatime slot of 5pm – attracting a unique demographic.

The programme has undergone significant change since late 2021 when it received permission from Ofcom to turn its two half-hourly editions at 5pm and 6.30pm each weekday into one hour-long slot at 5pm. Soon after the relaunch, its presenter of six years Sian Williams departed and 5 News poached Dan Walker from BBC Breakfast to be lead anchor, presenting alongside Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije from June.