Two of the BBC’s leading journalists, Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis, are leaving the public broadcaster to join LBC and its owner Global.

The corporation’s North America editor and Newsnight presenter will front a major new podcast for the Global Player as well as hosting a show together on LBC and providing expert comment and analysis for the radio station’s website.

The duo will also be joined by Dino Sofos, the founder of audio production company Persephonica, and the former head of the BBC’s news podcasts. He helped develop Brexitcast, Newscast and Americast, the latter of which is currently presented by Sopel and Maitlis.