DENISE LEWIS has said an emotional goodbye to the BBC as she quit her job as a pundit to start a new career.
This 51-year-old has been on the screens since 2009, and she announced her shocking departure live on television.
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Denise Lewis gave an emotional farewell to the BBC
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Her colleagues gave her a nice send-off, and Micheal Johnson handed her a bunch of flowers
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Lewis brilliantly dropped the mic as she said goodbye
As Olympic athletics action drew to a close in Paris, Lewis revealed she was taking on a new job as chair of UK Athletics.
Host Gabby Logan and co-stars Jessica Ennis-Hill and Michael Johnson gave the 2000 Sydney gold medalist an amazing send-off.
After a stunning montage of her best moments, the American runner presented Lewis with a huge bunch of flowers and said: “We love you and we’ll miss you. It was amazing working with you.”
Ennis-Hill added: “I grew up watching you and you inspired me. Now I have to sit next to you.
“It was a great honor and thank you for guiding me. I wish you all the best.”
Logan said: “I’m a superfan and I have to call her a colleague.
“Denise, you are generous, kind, fun and brilliant to work with. We will miss you dearly – not only as an athletic expert, but also as a person.
“We wish you all the best. They chose the right person for the job.
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Lewis looked emotional as she said: “It’s a sad parting, honestly, the best team. Gabby at the helm, Jess, MJ and the whole production team, they’re all here.
“They make this program what it is, all the runners over the years, they’ve been the biggest supporters, our fantastic editors, it’s been a journey.”
BBC pundit, 51, announces she’s quitting live TV and unveils new job in emotional scenes
Lewis then brilliantly signed off by dropping the microphone on the table to wild cheers from BBC staff backstage.
Opening up her new role, the former heptathlon star explained: “It’s time to try and help grow a sport that has been so amazing to me.
“I wouldn’t be in this position if I didn’t dare to dream, if I had a club, all the volunteers who make the clubs what they should be.
“I will work with the membership, mainly with the grassroots because that is where we need to work.”
“We have to take care of the arrival of such events [Olympics].
“We need to encourage local communities to get involved in athletics.”
The BBC’s full Olympics lineup
Lecturers:
- Clare Balding
- Gabby Logan
- Hazel Irvine
- Isa Guha
- Jeanette Kwakye
- JJ Chalmers
- Mark Chapman
Guests in the studio:
- Beth Tweddle
- Chris Hoy
- Denise Lewis
- Fred Sirieix
- Jessica Ennis-Hill
- Kate Richardson-Walsh
- Katherine Grainger
- Laura Kenny
- Mark Foster
- Michael Johnson
- Nicola Adams
- Rebecca Adlington
- Tonia Couch
Radio:
- Adrian Chiles
- Eleanor Oldroyd
- Kelly Cates
- Mark Chapman
- Naked Munchetty
- Tony Livesey
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Source: HIS Education