The BBC's long standing foreign correspondent Fergal Keane is leaving the corporation after 37 years. The 65-year-old expressed his "sadness" to be leaving in a short statement. "I leave with a natural degree of sadness but with immense gratitude to the organisation and the people I have been privileged to work alongside. The BBC remains the greatest public service broadcaster anywhere in the world. To go when I still have the drive and curiosity for fresh challenges was always my plan," he said.

He began his career with the corporation in 1989 when he was appointed Northern Ireland correspondent. Just a year later he moved to the role of South African correspondent in 1990 where he remained for four years. during that period he covered unrest in the country, the first multi-racial elections following the end of apartheid, and the genocide in Rwanda. In 1997 he won a BAFTA for Valentina’s Story, one of his films on the territory.

In 1994 he changed tack again becoming the BBC’s Asia correspondent. He was based in Hong Kong for the handover from the UK to China, ending more than 150 years of British rule in the region.

In recent years, he has reported extensively on the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.

Richard Burgess the BBC’s director of news content paid tribute to the journalist saying: "Fergal’s career has been defined by the quality of his journalism and storytelling, as well as the humanity and empathy which has imbued all his reporting.

"Beyond his professional achievements, Fergal is clever, kind and generous, as well as thoughtful and witty. We will miss him as a valued colleague," he added.

**** Ensure our latest showbiz headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ****

Tributes and praise flooded in for the star as news of his departure became public. Writing on Facebook one said: "Brilliant reporter...He will be missed..."

A second added: "An amazing man. Won't see the likes of him again." A third chimed in: "Excellent reporter, will be missed." a fourth shared: "Sad to hear this, a trusted reporter..."

A fifth penned: "He's a amazing journalist." Meanwhile a sixth commented: "Well done - comhghairdeas [congratulations]....he sure has put in hard yards in some of the most difficult places in the world."

Although leaving his day job Fergal has no plans to rest on his laurels. Already the author of several books, he is currently working on his first novel and a new non-fiction work. He is also set to maintain his association with the BBC as a freelancer to produce long-form film and video content.