MUMBAI: BBC's well-known anchor Stephen Cole will be joining the Middle Eastern television company Al-Jazeera for its forthcoming English-language news and current affairs channel -- Al-Jazeera International. Stephen Cole will anchor from the London broadcast centre.

Cole was associated with BBC News 24 and BBC World as senior anchor. He also hosted the BBC's Click Online programme, 6 O'Clock and Ten O'Clock bulletins. He was previously associated with Sky News, CNN, and ITN. Earlier this year, Al-Jazeera International had roped in television host, author and producer Sir David Frost and also CNN's Riz Khan.

Cole will be Al Jazeera International's main male news anchor in their London news broadcast centre, one of the channel's four regional broadcast centres - the others are in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, and Washington DC.

Al Jazeera International's London bureau chief, Sue Phillips said, "I am delighted that Stephen is joining the team here in London. He brings a wealth of international broadcasting experience and will help us to offer viewers around the world a fresh perspective on global news."

Stephen was recently elected to The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and will be hosting the Royal Television Society Technology Awards on December 8th. He has written and presented the Oscars Special Show for BBC World and BBC News 24 for the past five years.