He joined the BBC in 1989, presenting programmes such as "The World Tonight", "Newsstand", "Stop Press", and "File on 4" for Radio 4, and "Newshour" on the BBC World Service. On 31 August 1997 Lustig presented a special news programme covering the sudden death of Diana, Princess of Wales, just hours after the announcement was made. From its introduction in 1998 until 2006, he also presented the global phone-in programme "Talking Point" (later renamed "Have Your Say"), which was transmitted simultaneously on BBC World Service radio, BBC World TV and online. His guests on the programme included Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Olusegun Obasanjo, Hugo Chávez and Tony Blair.