BROADCASTERS Chris Buckler and Sarah Brett are to become the new voices of BBC Radio Ulster's flagship daily news programme.
The new pairing will take to the Good Morning Ulster airwaves from April.
It comes after Karen Patterson left the show earlier this month and co-presenter Noel Thompson will leave the programme in the coming weeks.
Mr Buckler, who most recently has been BBC News’ Washington Correspondent, described the new role as an "opportunity to come home and be a part of BBC Northern Ireland’s flagship news programme was too much to turn down".
Originally from the Helen's Bay area, he joined the BBC in 1999 as a news trainee and went on to present and report for BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Newsline.
In 2008 he joined BBC network news as North of England Correspondent and later UK Affairs Correspondent.
He returned to Belfast as Ireland Correspondent in 2013 before heading to Washington to report on the Trump administration and stories across north America.
"Having covered two very busy years of Donald Trump’s presidency it was a difficult decision to leave the US ahead of this year’s election," he said.
"But the opportunity to come home and be a part of BBC Northern Ireland’s flagship news programme was too much to turn down.
"I’ve spoken to Sarah many times from Washington on BBC Radio 5 live and I can’t wait to sit alongside her in the studio in Belfast.
"We intend to make the programme a must-listen in the mornings and with ministers back in Stormont it is a great time to be relaunching the show."
Ms Brett, who has hosted her own discussion programme on BBC Radio 5 live, said to be able to present a programme that is the "soundtrack to so many people’s mornings is a real honour".
She joined BBC Radio Foyle in the 2004 as a reporter and hosted The Sarah Brett Show and the station's breakfast programme with Enda McClafferty.
"We’re at the epicentre of huge political and social change in Europe, the UK and the island of Ireland, but there’s so much happening on a local level too that’s just as important," she said.
Adam Smyth, head of BBC News NI, said: "While they have each gone on to forge impressive careers across the BBC, they have remained passionate about news and events Northern Ireland and they bring with them a wealth of broadcasting experience.
"They will make a formidable pairing and we’re excited to see what they bring to the programme and station."
