Köksal joins co-host Chris Howden on the acclaimed national current affairs show,
starting September 5
CBC today announced award-winning journalist Nil Köksal as the new host of the national current affairs show, AS IT HAPPENS. She will step away from her current role with CBC's morning national radio show, CBC NEWS: WORLD REPORT, in late July. Her first day in the host chair, delivering the stories behind the news of the day, will be Monday, September 5.
“Nil’s unique insights, experience and enthusiasm to learn new things, make her a unique fit for an unconventional show like As it Happens,” said Cathy Perry, Executive Director, Current Affairs and Investigative for CBC News. “Cutting to the heart of a story and putting the facts into context, even in the midst of breaking news, have made Nil an invaluable part of the CBC News team. While we know World Report listeners will miss her steady delivery and quick banter with local hosts each morning, audiences will now have a chance to experience her boundless curiosity, and ability to genuinely connect with people in any situation to deepen the conversation.”
Köksal will join co-host and longtime show writer, Chris Howden, bringing listeners AS IT HAPPENS’ signature blend of irreverent perspectives and unique voices at the heart of the day’s headlines, from Canada and around the world, as the show has been doing for more than 50 years.
"I love As It Happens for the whimsy it brings into our lives, for the corners of the world it takes us to," said Köksal. “We will learn, laugh and maybe even cry together through these conversations. It's a sense of connection and community that is so powerful, especially now. I can't wait to build on this legacy with Chris and the entire, incredible As It Happens family!"
Köksal began her career at CBC News as an editorial assistant, working her way up to writer, video journalist, and Canadian Screen Award-winning reporter. She has hosted across CBC News Network and CBC Toronto and has reported internationally for CBC News from cities including Istanbul, Tunis, London, Washington, and New York, and was also part of the CBC News team covering the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 in South Korea.
Köksal has been a popular guest host for AS IT HAPPENS since 2019, delivering meaningful conversations with people impacted by the days headlines and notable interviews with unique personalities such as a British baker that created a life-sized effigy of Boris Johnson (estimated to weigh ‘one-and-a-half real Borises’), and a US-based physiologist who developed mathematical models to push the boundaries of competitive eating, determining just how many hotdogs a human could potentially eat in 10 minutes (spoiler: 84, give or take).
Köksal moved to Canada with her parents when she was four years old, one of seven moves before her seventh birthday, and has lived in cities big and small in Ontario and British Columbia. She regularly travels to Turkey to visit family and reported from the region between 2015 and 2018, taking audiences inside Syria, the refugee crisis, and the impact of ISIS. She also reported on the dramatic political and social changes in post coup attempt Turkey, the series of deadly terror attacks across the country, and the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov.
When Köksal is not in the studio, you'll find her devouring a book or a binge-worthy show. She never passes up a night at the theatre, a chance to dance or travel and is forever trying to match her late mom Melek's amazing Turkish cooking skills. She is drawn to the beauty of design, film, fashion, art and the power of the written word.
AS IT HAPPENS first premiered on CBC Radio One on November 18, 1968, offering a simple but effective format that was a twist on the traditional call-in show; a call out show, where the hosts would interview people across the country and around the world. The show broadcasts weekdays at 6:30 p.m. (7 NT) on CBC Radio One, the free CBC Listen App for iOS and Android, online at cbc.ca/listen, and to U.S. public radio stations through distributor PRX.
Longtime host, Carol Off, previously announced that she would step down from the program in February 2022 to focus on developing new projects for CBC.
Köksal’s last day hosting CBC NEWS: WORLD REPORT will be July 20. The search for a new weekday host will begin in the weeks ahead. Marcia Young continues as the show’s weekend host on CBC Radio, the free CBC Listen App for iOS and Android, and online at cbc.ca/listen.
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About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
For further information, please contact:
Frances Bedford, CBC PR
frances.bedford@cbc.ca
416.205.7673
