Sky Sports News axe seven stars including Melissa Reddy and popular TV host
Sky Sports News have axed seven on-screen stars as the broadcaster continues its major shake-up with popular presenter Rob Wotton among those departing
Sky Sports News has let go of seven prominent figures in a significant reshuffle, including well-known presenter Rob Wotton and senior reporter Melissa Reddy. Wotton made an emotional farewell during his last live broadcast on Monday, after nearly three decades with Sky.
It has since emerged that six other colleagues will be leaving alongside him as part of a redundancy scheme.
The Sun (via the Mirror) reports that those affected include senior reporter Reddy, following a consultation period. Presenters Teddy Draper and Jasper Taylor are also set to depart the channel this summer, after 18 and 11 years at Sky respectively.
Jeremy Langdon, a long-standing reporter, is ending his 20-year relationship with Sky Sports News. Senior reporter Fadumo Okow and a news editor will also be exiting their positions.
Reddy joined Sky Sports News as a senior reporter three years ago. During her tenure, the South African journalist reported on some of the Premier League's biggest stories.
However, recent reports reveal that news of their departures was shared internally following a consultation period. A spokesperson clarified that these changes are not a cost-saving measure, but rather aimed at "making us more agile and better equipped to serve audiences".
During his final appearance on Sky Sports Monday, Wotton shared: "It's been an absolute pleasure.
"I came here in my 20s and I thought I was only coming for a couple of weeks.
"And look, they haven't been able to get rid of me. I keep turning up, maybe one day they'll pay me!".
Wotton has been part of the broadcasting team since 1998. He was the familiar face hosting The Football Show on Monday mornings, which recapped the weekend's football highlights, but the show will not be returning next season.
His fellow presenters Draper and Taylor rose through the ranks from production to become faces of the channel during their decade-long tenure at Sky Sports News.
Langdon, on the other hand, has been at Sky for over two decades.