Who will replace Andrew Marr at the BBC?
Four of bookies' top five favourites to fill his shoes are women
Andrew Marr will become chief political commentator at The New Statesman after leaving the BBC at the end of the year, the magazine has announced.
A former editor of The Independent, Marr was the BBC’s political editor from 2000 to 2005, and has presented his own interview-based Sunday morning programme for the broadcaster since 2015.
The high-profile journalist announced two weeks ago that he was quitting the corporation, saying he was “keen to get my own voice back”. After signing to The New Statesman, he said: “I have been looking for partners who won’t be leaning on my shoulder as I write – and it seems I have found them.”
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.
The magazine “saw off competition from bigger titles to secure Marr on an almost exclusive basis”, according to Press Gazette. However, he will also have sidelines presenting own shows for LBC and Classic FM and writing a regular column for the LBC website.
As Marr prepares to leave his current Sunday morning show gig, speculation is hotting up about who will take his place. Here are bookies' top five favourites, plus other possible contenders.
Emma Barnett
The presenter of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour has also anchored BBC Two’s Newsnight, as well as doing stints on LBC and BBC Radio 5 Live. Bookmakers have her as the favourite to take over from Marr, at 7/2.
Kirsty Wark
The Scot first joined the BBC in 1976. She is best known for her years as the presenter of Newsnight and has also fronted Newsnight Review. Her odds of taking over from Marr are currently rated at 8/1.
Mishal Husain
Northampton-born Husain, on odds of 9/1, has filled in for Marr in the past. One of the main presenters on BBC Radio 4’s Today, she is also often in the chair on the broadcaster’s News at Ten.
Eddie Mair
The only man in the top five, Mair has occasionally presented Newsnight and has his own weekday afternoon show on LBC. He made headlines when, while filling in for Marr back in October 2019, he asked Boris Johnson if he was “a nasty piece of work”. Mair, who hails from Dundee, is being given odds of 12/1.
Emily Maitlis
Tying with Mair on odds of 12/1, Newsnight anchor Maitlis has covered elections for the BBC in UK and US. The widely revered broadcaster has won a string of awards, including the Network Presenter of the Year gong at the RTS Television Journalism Awards for her explosive interview with Prince Andrew.
Laura Kuenssberg
Despite failing to place in the bookies’ top five, The Guardian said that the BBC’s political editor is “likely to be among the front runners” to take over from Marr. However, it has previously been reported that Kuenssberg was stepping away from her current role to join the Today programme.
Andrew Neil
The media veteran could potentially be available to return to the BBC, having walked out on GB News in September. Neil has hinted that he is keen to land another job in TV, saying: “I don’t want GB News to be the full stop in my broadcasting career.” The Times reported that the “bruised” journalist met BBC director-general Tim Davie weeks after “dramatically” quitting the right-leaning news channel and that the pair were believed to “have enjoyed a constructive conversation”.
Zeinab Badawi
The host of BBC Global Questions and Hardtalk, Badawi has filled in on Marr’s show before, so she would be a familiar face to his core audience.
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
-
4 ways to give back this holiday season
The Explainer If your budget is feeling squeezed, remember that money is not the only way you can be generous around the holidays
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
4 tips for hosting an ecofriendly Thanksgiving
The Week Recommends Coming together for the holidays typically produces a ton of waste, but with proper preparation, you can have an environmentally friendly gathering.
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published