A historic first as Channel 4 makes commitment to Yorkshire - Sunita Bhatti

This permanent base will allow Channel 4 News the first prime time - and national evening news programme - to be co-presented from two locations. And as someone who has lived and worked in the region, it’s with remarkable pride that I’ve watched it come to life.

Flanked by a growing and dynamic new team, this studio serves as a reminder of the programme’s commitment to and investment in regional production.

Deepening our roots in the north of England, we are embedding coverage from the region into the heart of the programme, reflecting authentic voices from right across the country.

There’s no doubt that ventures like this contribute significantly to a city’s local, cultural economy.

Alongside the major presence of Channel 4 in Leeds, it’s clear we’re playing a key part in shaping the creative industries in this place. And we have been delighted to partner with the University of Leeds, donating high-performance equipment and technology from our temporary studio to its School of Media and Communication.

Our industry is only as good as the talent we develop and the opportunities we create, so we know this partnership will support the University in continuing to shape some of the country’s brightest young journalists for the years to come.

From the outset, we were clear this studio needed to do something different. We have welcomed the opportunity to innovate and expand, putting state-of-the-art digital technology at the centre of the studio’s design and output. From robotic cameras to a 10-foot data wall, this is a space at the forefront of studio design.

With a range of new newsroom appointments, from our Communities Editor Darshna Soni to our Deputy Head of Home News Sally Chesworth, Leeds is already giving us a platform to reassert our reputation for investigations and social affairs coverage for which we are known.

But we’re taking this one step further, launching a distinct new editorial strand with a focus on data journalism, driven by our newly appointed data correspondent Ciaran Jenkins. In a world increasingly saturated by misinformation, the search for truth has never been more important. It’s how we connect with our audiences and help them make sense of the world.

And we’re delighted that Leeds will be a focal point for our data-led journalism and digital output.

Co-presentation is no minor undertaking. It requires close collaboration between Leeds and London to make two newsrooms speak as one. But with the support of our teams in Gray’s Inn Road and here in Yorkshire, we went to air last week, with Krishnan Guru-Murthy in London and Jackie Long in Leeds.

This is a major milestone in Channel 4 News’ history, just a month after Channel 4 confirmed the extension of ITN’s contract to deliver the bulletin until the end of December 2026.

Sunita Bhatti is head of regions at Channel 4 News.