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Sky Sports News axes seven stars in major shake-up as popular presenters cut

Sky Sports News has confirmed a number of high-profile departures, with a popular presenter and a senior reporter among the seven staff members who are leaving the broadcaster

[Daniel Sturridge, Melissa Reddy and Jamie Redknapp]

Melissa Reddy joined Sky Sports in 2022(Image: Joe Maher/Getty Images)

Sky Sports News is undergoing a massive overhaul, resulting in the departure of seven big names. Among those leaving are fan-favourite anchor Rob Wotton and esteemed senior reporter Melissa Reddy.

Wotton made an emotional exit from the channel during his last live broadcast on Monday, visibly moved as he said his goodbyes to viewers after nearly 30 years with Sky. It has emerged that Wotton's departure is part of a wider redundancy scheme.

According to The Sun, the shake-up includes senior reporter Reddy after a period of consultation.

Presenters Teddy Draper and Jasper Taylor are also set to bid adieu to the sports channel this summer, after dedicating 18 and 11 years to Sky respectively.

Veteran reporter Jeremy Langdon is wrapping up his 20-year stint with Sky Sports News. Senior reporter Fadumo Okow and a news editor are also on their way out, reports the Mirror.

[Melissa Reddy]

Melissa Reddy has been axed by Sky Sports(Image: melissa_reddy/INSTAGRAM)

Reddy joined Sky Sports News as a senior reporter three years ago, where she became known for her coverage of major Premier League stories. The recent report indicates that staff were informed of these exits through an internal memo after consultations.

Despite the high-profile exits, a spokesperson has stated that the changes are not about cost-cutting but rather aimed at "making us more agile and better equipped to serve audiences".

In his final appearance on Sky Sports on Monday, Wotton remarked: "It's been an absolute pleasure. I came here in my 20s and I thought I was only coming for a couple of weeks.

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"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 with the broadcaster since 1998, presenting The Football Show on Monday mornings to review the weekend's football action, but that show has now been axed ahead of the next season.

His colleagues Draper and Taylor have risen through the ranks from production roles to become familiar faces on-screen during their decade-plus at Sky Sports News.

Langdon, on the other hand, has been part of the Sky team for over two decades.

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