Veteran broadcaster Alastair Stewart has announced that he has decided to retire after almost 50 years in the business.

The 71-year-old is the UK's longest-serving newsreader and has worked in local and national broadcasting, including a lengthy stint at ITV.

For the last two years Stewart has hosted his own discussion programme for GB News, the last editions of which were broadcast last weekend.

Despite stepping down from hosting weekly shows, Stewart will remain with GB News as a special commentator of big events such as the King's Coronation in May and the upcoming general election.

"I'm nearly 71 and I still get the most tremendous lift from live television – it's the best job in the world," he said in a statement. "However, the rigours of preparing for two live interview shows a week, and commuting from Hampshire to London for them, are considerable.

"I want to reduce my commitment while I'm still ahead as an old broadcaster, rather than an ancient one. Thankfully the timing is mine; I just want to spend more of it with my family, my horses, and the charities that have meant so much to me over the years."

He continued: "It's been a privilege to complete my regular broadcasting career with a sparky start-up like GB News that's challenging the traditional moulds I've known for so long.

"It's kept me on my toes, taught me new tricks, but above all GB News has liberated me. I've had the freedom to cover the stories I'm passionate about, interview the people I want, and to offer my perspective more freely than I've been allowed to in the past.

"I'm grateful to everyone at GB News, but also to all the fabulous colleagues I've known throughout these many years. Quite simply, I couldn't have done any of it without them."

GB News will announce details of its revised weekend schedule shortly.