BBC pundit, 51, announces she’s quitting live on TV and reveals new job in emotional scenes

DENISE LEWIS said an emotional goodbye to the BBC as she quit her job as a pundit to start a new career.

The 51-year-old has been on screens since 2009 and announced her shock departure live on TV.

As the Olympics athletics action came to a close in Paris, Lewis revealed she was taking up a new job as President of UK Athletics.

Presenter Gabby Logan and colleagues Jessica Ennis-Hill and Michael Johnson gave the Sydney 2000 gold medallist an incredible send-off.

After an stunning montage of her best moments, the American runner gave Lewis a huge bunch of flowers and said: “We love you and we are going to miss you. It’s been amazing working with you.”

Ennis-Hill added: “I grew up watching you and was inspired by you. Now I’ve got to sit next to you.

“It’s been such an honour and thank you for guiding me. Wish you all the best.”

Logan said: “I’m a superfan and I got to call her a colleague.

“Denise, you’re generous, kind, fun and brilliant to work with. We are going to miss you so much – not just you’re athletics expertise but as a person.

“We wish you all the very best. They have chosen the right person for the job.

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Lewis looked emotional as she said: “It’s a sad farewell, honestly, the best team. Gabby at the helm, Jess, MJ and the whole production team, they are all here.

“They make this programme what it is, all the runners over the years, they have been the most supportive, our fantastic editors, it has been a journey.”

Lewis then brilliantly signed off by dropping her microphone on the table to huge cheers from behind-the-scenes BBC employees.

Opening up on her new role, the former heptathlon star explained: “It’s time to try to help develop the sport that has been so amazing to me.

“I would not be in this position if I had not dared to dream, had a club, all the volunteers that make the clubs what they need to be.

“I will be working with the membership, predominately grassroots as that is where the work needs to be done.

“We need to make sure the pipeline to events like this [Olympics].

“We need to encourage local communities to get involved with athletics.”