Krishnan Guru-Murthy brought Channel 4’s evening news bulletin to an abrupt close this week with an unusually hurried exit.
The 56-year-old presenter, who has worked at the broadcaster since 1998, rushed through his sign-off before ripping off his microphone and earpiece and walking off camera.
Viewers were struck by the contrast with his normally composed manner, as he said: “That’s it for this evening. We’re back at 7 tomorrow night. Until then, gotta go – bye!”
The reason for his swift departure soon became clear. Guru-Murthy later confirmed he was leaving with just five minutes to spare before a football kick-off.
Wednesday night marked England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina, a match that ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Three Lions after an early 1-0 lead.
Manager Thomas Tuchel attributed the loss to a struggle to retain possession under pressure, citing a weakness in English football “DNA” rather than tactical structure.
The match drew a peak audience of 24 million, making it the most-watched live television moment of the year across all broadcasters.
England will face France in Saturday’s bronze medal match, with a podium finish still possible despite the semi-final exit.
The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will take place on Sunday, with a Super Bowl-style halftime show featuring multiple global music acts.
The extended 25-minute interval performance will support an education fund aiming to raise $100 million for children’s access to schooling and football.
