BBC Look East presenter Susie Fowler-Watt has announced she’s quitting the broadcaster - to take up a totally different career.
Having been the face of the BBC Look East programme for nearly three decades, the 56-year-old host is leaving to launch her own psychotherapy career, having qualified in 2024.
She revealed her final show will be on December 18, marking 35 years since she first started at BBC Radio Surrey in 1991.
"I have absolutely loved the job, but I'm now in a new chapter of life, and keen to focus my energy on my therapy work," Susie, who lives in Norfolk, said.
"Presenting the BBC's 18:30 regional news programme has been such a privilege, as you're very much part of your community and are invited into hundreds of thousands of homes every evening.
"I have grown up alongside our Look East audience, having become a lead presenter in my 20s. For me, it's about being a voice for our viewers and seeking answers on their behalf."
Susie is one of the longest-serving presenters at the broadcaster and become lead host of the Look East news in 1997.
Among her biggest stories were reporting on the Soham murders of 10-year-old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman by Ian Huntley, who died in March this year after being attacked by another inmate.
Susie also covered the trial of serial killer Steve Wright, as well as the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
But the most memorable ones for her were interviews with ordinary people going through “extraordinary” times.
"It is amazing what people can endure, what they can achieve and how they find light in darkness," she said.
"It is telling those stories that has been so important to me. The Covid lockdown was a case in point - every day I was moved by how our communities came together, and it was our job to reflect that amid all the grim news.
Robert Thompson, Director of Production for BBC Local, paid tribute to her, saying : "Susie has made an outstanding contribution to the BBC and audiences across the East of England."
He added: "A trusted voice through both good times and challenging moments, she has championed the region and its communities with warmth, integrity and professionalism.
"We thank her for her dedication and lasting impact. She leaves us with our warmest of wishes and huge thanks."