Radio 4 loses Damon to the World Service

Dan Damon, presenter and reporter for BBC Radio 4’s PM and Broadcasting House, is moving to the World Service to present World Update.

He will replace Vicki Barker, who has anchored the the early-morning news round-up programme – which broadcasts across the US – since it launched five years ago.

Damon, who takes up his new role on 3 November, has fronted the World Service’s One Planet programme for the past 18 months. Alistair Burnett, editor of daytime programmes at the World Service, said Damon had an outstanding track record in reporting on international news stories.

“He combines an understanding of global affairs with the quiet authority ideal for an early-morning news show. “He is the right voice to carry on the work of Vicki in making World Update essential listening for people interested in finding out what’s happening around the world before they set off for work for the day,” Burnett said.

Damon began his BBC career as a technical operator in the radio control room at Broadcasting House, but became a journalist in 1982 when he presented a phone-in show on LBC.

In 1989, in conjunction with his wife, who is a camera operator, Damon worked as a freelance reporter covering wars and revolutions around the world. He returned to work for Radio 4 and the World Service in 1996 and in 2000 covered the US Presidential Election. This year he covered the war in Iraq from the coalition forces’ central command in Qatar.