Newsround’s Lizo Mzimba makes unlikely Coachella appearance during UK star Jai Paul’s set

He was the longest serving host of CBBC’s Newsround from 1998 to 2008.

And Lizo Mzimba was back in the news this week after making an unlikely on stage appearance at the Coachella music festival in California.

The respected journalist, 54, said he was ‘honoured and grateful’ after a throwback snap of him from his time on the kid’s show was projected onto a huge screen during elusive UK artist Jai Paul’s first ever performance. 

The English singer-songwriter made his solo debut on the iconic stage after years of producing music for the likes of Beyonce, Ariana Grande and Drake. 

Taking to Twitter following the set Lizo, who is now the BBC’s Entertainment correspondent, shared a photo of the historic and unexpected moment.

Iconic: The respected journalist, 54, said he was ‘honoured and grateful’ after a throwback snap of him from his time on the kid’s show was projected onto a huge screen

What a day! Taking to Twitter following the performance Lizo shared a photo of the historic and unexpected moment

Writing: ‘Never ever imagined that a picture of me from my Newsround days would end up being projected on a huge screen at Coachella at the weekend’.

‘Very honoured and grateful. Thank you @Jai_Paul’.

Racing to the comments sections fans were thrilled to see the host they were also left with many questions. 

One wrote: ‘No way! Please tell me the back story to this…’

While another added: ‘How? Why? Wonderful but there are BIG questions’.

Last year past former Newsround presenters including Lizo, Channel 4 news‘s Krishnan Guru-Murthy, ITV’s Julie Etchingham and John Craven celebrated the show’s 50th anniversary.

Among the programme’s major scoops was its coverage of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. 

The shuttle broke apart and exploded in January 1986, minutes before that day’s Newsround episode was set to air.  

Debut: English singer-songwriter Jai Paul made his debut on the iconic stage after years of producing music for the likes of Beyonce, Ariana Grande and Drake

Surprise: Racing to the comments sections fans were thrilled to see the iconic host they were left with questions

Harry Potter star Rupert Grint, who portrayed Ron Weasley in all eight films, was prompted to apply to star in the franchise after seeing a report on Newsround. 

Paying tribute to Newsround, Mr Craven told the BBC: ‘Newsround is so important today, if not maybe more important than when it started 50 years ago. 

‘Because in this world of false news, untruths being circulated, children getting access to all methods of communication, it is so important that they have access to a programme that they feel is theirs which is directed at them and which tells them the truth.’

When Newsround was launched, it was one of the first news programmes in the world to be aimed specifically at children. 

It aired for up to 15 minutes each weeknight, before the main evening news at 6pm.

For its first 15 years on air, the show was named John Craven’s Newsround. 

Then, when other presenters joined in 1987, it was shortened to its current name. 

news‘s Krishnan Guru-Murthy, ITV’s Julie Etchingham and John Craven celebrated the show’s 50th anniversary (L-R) Lizo Mzimba, Ellie Crisell and Laura Jones in 2003″ class=”blkBorder img-share” style=”max-width:100%” />

Anniversary: Last year past former Newsround presenters including Lizo, Channel 4 news‘s Krishnan Guru-Murthy, ITV’s Julie Etchingham and John Craven celebrated the show’s 50th anniversary (L-R) Lizo Mzimba, Ellie Crisell and Laura Jones in 2003

baby steps: When it began on April 4, 1972, John Craven’s Newsround was just a six-week experiment. Above: A broadcast of the show in the 1970s

Rich history: Lizo, who presented Newsround from 1998 until 2008, said it is ‘impossible’ to come up with ‘just one fond memory’ of his time on the show

Mr Craven remained in post as the editor and a presenter for another two years before departing in 1989. 

The show was much more informal than the BBC’s main news output, with the presenter standing rather than sitting. 

Mr Craven also coined the phrase ‘and finally’, which he would use before rounding off the show with a lighthearted story. The technique is still used today.

Mr Grint, who is now 33, said he applied to feature in the Harry Potter films when he saw a report about the upcoming franchise on Newsround.

Lizo presented Newsround with fellow future well-known face Matthew Price (top left). David Bull (pictured top right) is now a politician for the Reform UK party. Kate Sanderson (bottom left) is now a presenter on the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS)

Helen Skelton was also an occasional presenter on Newsround. She is now a well-known broadcaster

Harry Potter star Rupert Grint, who portrayed Ron Weasley in all eight films, was prompted to apply to star in the franchise after seeing a report on Newsround

He told the BBC during filming for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2000: ‘I found out that you could audition [for the film] by sending a picture of yourself and some information to  Newsround. I did my own video.’

He said he pretended to be his female drama teacher, performed a rap and made up his own script. 

Mr Grint’s performance impressed the franchise’s bosses, who opted to cast him as Ron Weasley in all of the films. 

Ms Etchingham joined the cast of presenters in 1994 and remained in her post until 1998. She is now a leading presenter for ITV news.    

Mr Craven said: ‘When Newsround started in 1972, it was a six-week experiment and I was asked to do it because I was already doing a children’s programme called Search, which was our weekly current affairs programme. 

‘So I thought up the word Newsround, because it reminded me of a paper round, so it would involve children. 

‘And then the boss said ‘well yeah but if it’s a paper round, it is normally somebody’s paper round, and so this will be John Craven’s newsround’.

‘That’s how it got the title and the audience seemed to like it. So this experiment of six weeks came to an end and they said let’s do it full time.’