One of Fox News Channel's most high profile journalists, Chris Wallace is leaving Fox News after eighteen (18) years. He will be leaving the channel for CNN's upcoming streaming service, CNN+.

Wallace has been the anchor of Fox News Sunday since 2003. In his program aired on Sunday, December 12, he announced his departure. "After 18 years — this is my final Fox News Sunday. It is the last time — and I say this with real sadness — we will meet like this.," the anchor said. He called his time Fox News as a "great ride" after deciding to leave Fox. “I want to try something new, to go beyond politics to all the things I’m interested in. I’m ready for a new adventure. And I hope you’ll check it out.," he added. Two hours later, CNN readily announced that the anchor is heading to the WarnerMedia-owned news outlet as the new anchor for their upcoming subscription streaming service, CNN+. The service will debut in the first quarter of 2022.

In a statement released by CNN, Wallace expressed, "I am thrilled to join CNN+. After decades in broadcast and cable news, I am excited to explore the world of streaming. I look forward to the new freedom and flexibility streaming affords in interviewing major figures across the news landscape—and finding new ways to tell stories. As I embark on this adventure, I am honored and delighted to join Jeff Zucker and his great team. I can’t wait to get started.”

When CNN+ launches next year, CNN stated that Wallace's new show will be a weekday program that features interviews with newsmakers across politics, business, sports, and culture.

CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker said in a statement that, "It is not often that a news organization gets the opportunity to bring someone of Chris Wallace’s caliber on board. He is as fine a journalist as there is in our business. This speaks volumes about our commitment to journalism and CNN+, and we are thrilled to have Chris on the ground floor of helping us build the next generation of CNN and news.”

In his last day at the Fox News Sunday, Wallace thanked the higher-ups and his bosses at Fox for keeping their promise to never ever interfere with his interviews. He said, "Eighteen years ago, the bosses here at Fox promised me they would never interfere with a guest I booked or a question I asked. And they kept that promise. I have been free to report to the best of my ability, to cover the stories I think are important, to hold our country’s leaders to account.” He looked back on his coverage of five presidential elections and his interviews with every U.S. president since George H.W. Bush. His interviews with other world leaders like France's Emanuel Macron and Russia's Vladimir Putin were also memorable to him as he expressed his happiness that he had been able to spend Sunday mornings for 18 years with his audience. “It may sound corny, but I feel we’ve built a community here. There’s a lot you can do on Sundays. The fact you’ve chosen to spend this hour with us is something I cherish.," Wallace said. 

Until a permanent replacement is named, Fox News Sunday will be hosted by a rotation of other Fox News anchors. 

Since Shepard Smith departed the channel for CNBC in 2019, Wallace is the most high-profile journalist to depart the network in years. 

Fox News said in a statement about Wallace's departure, "

We are extremely proud of our journalism and the stellar team that Chris Wallace was a part of for 18 years. The legacy of Fox News Sunday will continue with our star journalists, many of whom will rotate in the position until a permanent host is named.”

Wallace is famous for his tough interviews. He was a staple of Fox's election coverage and was a moderator for a number of presidential debates including the third presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in 2016 and the first debate between Trump and Joe Biden in 2020.

Chris Wallace is the son of legendary CBS correspondent Mike Wallace. He started his work at ABC News and NBC News and was a moderator of Meet the Press from 1987 to 1988.