Kirsty Young to leave Five News

Young has also presented Have I Got News For You?

TV presenter Kirsty Young is to leave Five News, 10 years after helping to launch the channel.

Young praised the channel but said it was time for a change. She said she had no plans beyond continuing to present Desert Island Discs for BBC Radio 4.

Bosses at Five said the 38-year-old had played a key role in the success of its news programme.

Young became known for her less formal style of presentation, sitting on the edge of her desk to read the news.

New focus

She said: "I've been so happy at Five and I'll miss the incredibly talented people in the news room but after 10 years I feel it's time for a change.

"Working in TV news has been a tremendously exciting and exhilarating experience and I will miss that day-to-day buzz but I feel now is the right time to focus on other areas."

She left Five in 1999 to join ITV News before returning to the channel in 2002.

She took over Desert Island Discs from Sue Lawley in 2006.