ITV News confirmed the news saying it was down to “errors of misjudgement in Alastair’s use of social media”. Stewart, who was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting in 2006, said it had been a “privilege” to work at the channel.
In a statement, he said: “It was a misjudgement which I regret but it’s been a privilege to bring the news to households throughout the UK for the past 40 years.”
Alastair has been the longest-serving male newsreader after he joined Southern Television back in 1976, then ITN in 1980.
Michael Jermey, Director of News and Current Affairs at ITV has said: “Alastair has been a long-standing, familiar figure to viewers of ITV News, both reporting and presenting with distinction. We wish him the very best for the future.”
ITN’s Chief Executive Anna Mallett added: “We would like to recognise Alastair’s contribution as one of the UK’s foremost journalists and TV presenters and to thank him for his commitment to delivering high-quality broadcast news over many years.”
It comes after tweets sent from Stewarts official and – now deleted – Twitter account have resurfaced. Express.co.uk has contacted Stewart’s agent for a comment.
Stewart began his journalism career as a reporter, industrial correspondent, presenter and documentary maker.
He recorded one of the last interviews with Lord Mountbatten before he was assassinated by the IRA in 1979, alongside that, Stewart spent six weeks in Ford Open Prison to make a half-hour documentary.
During the 1980’s he presenter and reporters Channel 4 News as well as providing live coverage of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster as the details of the tragedy unfolded, and a two-minute newsflash became an unscripted, one-hour special programme.
He also anchored – alongside Sandy Gall, the award-winning coverage on ITN on the night of the bombing of the Pan Am jet over Lockerbie and presented the ITV network coverage of the memorial service for the victims which followed.
In 1989, Stewart moved to ITN’s flagship News at Ten bulletin and anchored live from the fall of the Berlin Wall, before spending a year in the US as ITN’s Washington correspondent. Four days after returning from his assignment in Washington he was sent to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to anchor ITN’s coverage of the Gulf War, where he presented News at Ten, live from Saudi Arabia for two consecutive months.
To add to his achievements, Stewart became the first British television reporter to broadcast live from the liberated Kuwait City.
As for his work in the 90s, Stewart provided commentary for many special programmes including State Openings of Parliaments, numerous by-elections, state visits and the Royal Weddings of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, and The Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson.
Stewart also presented coverage for the 2003 Iraq War.
DON’T MISS…
Dan Walker forced to apologise as BBC host suffers on-screen blunder [VIDEO]
Piers Morgan shut down by Holly Willoughby over x-rated swipe [INTERVIEW]
Furious Jeremy Vine caller demands BBC licence be ‘scrapped’ [REACTION]
In February 2007, he became co-presenter of the ITV Lunchtime News, replacing Nicholas Owen. The bulletin was revamped in July 2009, from which point Stewart became one of two main alternate newscasters for the programme.
Then in August 2009, ITN announced Stewart would become the main co-presenter of the ITV Evening News, relinquishing his role as presenter of London Tonight. It was also announced simultaneously that he would be the main presenter of ITV’s general election results programme in 2010.
Onto 2010, and Stewart landed the gig as moderator for the UK’s first ever political leaders debate. Viewers up and down the country tuned in to see the Prime Ministerial candidates in the 2010 general election, featuring Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, debating live.
Stewart received honorary doctorates from the University of Plymouth in September 2010, from the University of Winchester in 2011,and from the University of Sunderland in 2012.
He was also given his own documentary in 2014 called Unbelievable Moments: Caught on Camera which returned for further episodes airing in 2016 and 2017.