Former BBC anchor Joanna Gosling has revealed how she went through a ‘horrible’ time at work before quitting the newsroom to become a family mediator.

The veteran broadcaster joined the BBC in 1999, but has now left the world of news behind for a role at law firm Irwin Mitchell.

Gosling, 52, said that her career change came after she was ‘involved in conflict’ during her time at the corporation.

‘That was an extremely difficult time and I really felt like there should have been more collaborative conversations than were going on at that time,’ she told The Telegraph.

‘I also got divorced, so obviously, I had that midlife change also and that awareness of what goes on with that.’

Joanna Gosling – who joined the BBC in 1999 – bid an emotional farewell as she signed off from her final broadcast on January 26

The veteran broadcaster joined the BBC in 1999, but has now left the world of news behind for a role at law firm Irwin Mitchell 

These work and personal difficulties prompted her to train in mediation, which sees experts hold discussions with parties on both sides of a conflict.

She said the dramatic career move means she can now ‘be the person I wish had been there for me’.

When the BBC was making a raft of cuts to its staff earlier this year and redundancy packages came available, Gosling said she tried to see it as an opportunity.

‘I knew that I needed to do this, I was done with what I had been doing, I’d been doing it for 30 years. I’d absolutely loved it but it was definitely time to do something different.’ 

Her emotional farewell to the BBC News Channel struck a chord with viewers, with the moment she closed her final bulletin after 23 years going viral.

She was met from applause from inside the studio as she came off air for the last time on January 26.

The veteran broadcaster said: ‘Now it is just about time for me to say goodbye for the last time.

‘I am signing off after 23 years at BBC News and before I go there are just a few things I wanted to say. I know this job is personal. 

‘We come directly into your home to tell you what is happening – good, bad, funny, sad.

Gosling was married to David Cameron’s former communications director Sir Craig Oliver (centre) for 18 years before they divorced in 2014

‘And in doing my work I always consider how you might be responding to the news you are hearing and what you might want to know.

‘But your response to me leaving has been completely unexpected and I have been really touched by the wave of warmth and kindness from you, and I want to say thank you for all of your good wishes. It really has meant a lot to me.

‘Lucky me to have had this great job, that has never felt like a job.’ 

The broadcaster now presents a show on Classic FM, but has insisted she doesn’t plan on returning to news. 

Gosling, 52, said that her career change came after she was ‘involved in conflict’ during her time at the corporation

Gosling was married to David Cameron’s former communications director Sir Craig Oliver for 18 years before they divorced in 2014. The pair have three daughters together.

She will now help other couples to navigate and resolve disputes without needing to go to court.

News of her new appointment as a Senior Associate on Irwin Mitchell’s Family Law team was shared by the firm last month.

She said in a statement: ‘I am passionate about helping people find a way through conflict, and to be able to do this work as part of the brilliant and caring family team at Irwin Mitchell, is a dream come true for me.’