Kay Burley has announced she's stepping down from Sky News after a remarkable career spanning 36 years and witnessing many hair-raising moments. In her time, the veteran newsreader has covered everything from the death of Diana, Princess of Wales to the September 11 attacks - and for many years has been the face of the broadcaster. Her lengthy career has seen exhilarating moments of brilliance - including her dogged reporting in the face of stubborn interviewees, and determination to get to the bottom of the story.

However, Burley has put her career at risk on more than one occasion, most notably when she faced a six-month suspension for breaking lockdown rules. She's also come under fire for her 'insensitive' reporting, including making Peter Andre cry, while causing furore for her handling of the April Jones murder investigation. Burley has also been the victim of numerous social media gaffes, including mixing up people's names in tributes - as well as a rather awkward misuse of the aubergine emoji.

Kay Burley has announced she's stepping down from Sky News after a remarkable career spanning 36 years. Her lengthy career has seen exhilarating moments of brilliance - but she's also been the victim of numerous errors and gaffes. Kay said previously said her 'sense of humour' is what she prizes above all else - saying she's needed to keep her 'sane' while surrounded by serious employees - in an 2015 interview with the Mail.

She added: 'People say I'm po-faced, but they'd be amazed how naughty I am.'. Kay made the announcement at the end of the programme this morning with no notice - looking back on a remarkable career at the forefront of news having been part of the team that launched Sky News in 1989. The presenter, reported to earn at least £600,000 a year as of 2020, has certainly not been able to please everyone in her time, but has pushed through to become one of the most recognisable faces on TV.

Here, FEMAIL looks back at her most memorable moment from her three decades on the screen. Kay's greatest risk to her news career came in December 2020, when she was pilloried in public after she was caught flouting coronavirus restrictions to party with colleagues in central London in December. Beth Rigby (right) broke lockdown rules to attend a 60th birthday party for Sky anchor Kay Burley and was suspended herself for three months before she returned earlier this year in March to her role on the channel of political editor.

Kay's greatest risk to her news career came in December 2020, when she was pilloried in public after she was caught flouting coronavirus restrictions to party with colleagues in central London in December. Sky political editor Beth Rigby, Miss Burley's colleague and close friend, was also suspended over the same gathering but came back to work in March. Inzamam Rashid was given the same suspension for being there and is also back at work, but presenter Samantha Washington was only off air for a week for her attendance.

After the birthday party was exposed by Guido in December, Miss Burley had announced: 'I have today agreed with Sky News to step back from my broadcasting role for a period of reflection. 'It's clear to me that we are all in the fight against Covid-19 and that we all have a duty to stick firmly by the rules. 'It doesn't matter that I thought I was Covid-compliant on a recent social event. The fact is I was wrong, I made a big mistake, and I am sorry.

Pictured: The route Kay Burley and colleagues took across London as she celebrated her birthday on Saturday, December 5. Kay had excitedly posted this celebratory picture on Instagram as she announced she was finally going back to work at Sky. 'Some dear friends and colleagues - some of the most talented and committed professionals in our business - have been pulled into this episode and I regret this enormously.

'I was one of the founding presenters on Sky News. No one is prouder of our channel's reputation, the professionals on our team and the impact we make. 'I very much look forward to being able to continue my 32-year career with Sky when I return.'. The story of how her rulebreaking was discovered was like the plot of a TV revenge drama. Junior production staff at Sky News leaked details of Ms Burley's plans for her 60th birthday celebrations in what was described as 'perfect inside-job coup'.

The star was heard discussing plans to dine at the members-only Century Club, near Piccadilly Circus, with a group bigger than six, the then-maximum number allowed under Covid rules. They recruited a paparazzi photographer to take pictures of the group and created an encrypted email account to leak the story to the media. Ms Burley was one of the founding presenters on Sky News after she was hired in 1988. She previously hosted an afternoon live show but was moved to anchor the breakfast programme in 2019.