Evan Davis: Newsnight job provokes mixed reaction
'Outstanding journalist' Evan Davis will replace Paxman – but should the BBC have hired a woman?
Evan Davis will replace Jeremy Paxman on the BBC's Newsnight programme, it was revealed today.
The decision came as "a surprise to many", says the Radio Times, after widespread speculation that the job would be awarded to Newsnight's chief reporter and rising star Laura Kuenssberg. Occasional Newsnight presenter and radio journalist Eddie Mair was another firm favourite.
Davis will leave his current position as presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and is expected to start his new job in the autumn. He is also a presenter of Dragon's Den and The Bottom Line, a Radio 4 business show.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
He told the BBC that he was "terribly sad" to be leaving the Today programme, but relished the idea of following in the footsteps of "some of the best television presenters in the business" in what would be a "new adventure and challenge".
Davis was described as an "outstanding journalist and an extraordinarily clever and intelligent interviewer" by BBC director general Tony Hall.
"I think he has a wonderful presence on TV and I have no doubt he will be a really great presenter of Newsnight," Hall said.
Newsnight editor Ian Katz also expressed his support for Davis saying he brings a "rare combination of curiosity, intelligence and mischief to his broadcasting", the Media Blog reports.
Others pointed out that with his background as the BBC's former economics editor, Davis would bring his financial expertise to the programme.
But critics cited his appointment as further evidence of the BBC's "left-wing bias", with the Spectator blog saying it was "hardly a controversial choice for the increasingly lefty show".
The news came on the same morning a review of the corporation by the BBC Trust ordered management to tackle a continued "gender imbalance" among its presenters, The Guardian reports. Opponents soon took to Twitter to highlight the irony that BBC failed to hire a female presenter as Paxman's replacement.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Huw Edwards: why is the BBC so scandal-prone?
In the Spotlight The national broadcaster has serious questions to answer
By The Week UK Published
-
Strictly Come Dancing scandal timeline: what happened when
In the Spotlight BBC director general addresses speculation over show's future and apologises to celebrity contestants who say they were mistreated
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Last updated
-
The Princess Diana interview and Martin Bashir's redacted dossier
Why everyone's talking about The newly revealed documents show Bashir claimed jealousy and discrimination fuelled allegations against him
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Huw Edwards and the question of ‘public interest’
Talking Point Privacy law ‘mess’ needs to be cleared up, not by judges, but by Parliament
By The Week Staff Published
-
Huw Edwards named as presenter at centre of BBC crisis
In Depth News reader’s wife, Vicky Flind, says he will remain in hospital for foreseeable future
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Fiona Bruce: has Question Time host been ‘hung out to dry’?
In Depth Presenter accused of trivialising domestic abuse in debate about Stanley Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
BBC at 100: what does the future hold for at-threat institution?
Today's Big Question The British Broadcasting Corporation is facing looming funding cuts amid digital ‘transformation’ of media
By The Week Staff Published
-
BBC at 100: what does the future hold for at-threat institution?
Today's Big Question The British Broadcasting Corporation is facing looming funding cuts amid digital ‘transformation’ of media
By Julia O'Driscoll Published