MUMBAI: BBC has announced that Newsround presenter and reporter Lizo Mzimba has been appointed entertainment correspondent for BBC News. In this new, specialist role Lizo will be reporting on all aspects of the entertainment world for all BBC News outlets including the BBC News Channel, bbc.co.uk/entertainmentnews and the new weekend entertainment programme E24.

Mzimba said, "I'm thrilled to be taking on this new challenge for BBC News and I am really excited about the opportunities my new role will bring. Working on Newsround has been a huge privilege with some great experiences and I truly hope the young people who have been with me throughout my career there will still continue to watch, listen and read the stories I'll be covering in my new role."

Lizo has been a key member of the Newsround team over the past decade – he has reported on major stories from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina and has interviewed figures from JK Rowling to Madonna.

BBC UK News editor Gary Smith said, "Lizo is a great communicator with a passion for entertainment news. In his time at Newsround he's built strong connections with younger audiences. These links will be really important across all our News platforms when he starts this new role."