Moody was instrumental in the revamp of BBC's car show Top Gear. BBC Television director Jana Bennett said, "I am very sad to lose Nicola as she has been a key member of the senior television team for a number of years, but I do completely understand her desire for a fresh challenge.

"She has brought the kind of broad perspective that comes from her career having spanned in-house production, the independent sector, commissioning and running a channel. The same fantastic diversity she has in experience is mirrored in the award-winning output she has delivered across the BBC's family of channels – from Great Britons and Restoration to Himalaya with Michael Palin, The Hunt for Britain's Paedophiles."

Moody commented, " I am very proud of the successful range of programmes I've brought to all four channels and it was a wonderful experience running BBC Four but I have decided that it is time for a new challenge. I've thought long and hard about what I want to do with the next phase of my career and while I will miss everyone enormously, there is a lot going on in the wider industry and I want to be part of it."