Standing down after 28 series

Sandi Toksvig is quitting Radio 4’s The News Quiz after 28 series at the helm.

Toksvig, who has hosted the show for nine years and chaired over 220 episodes, will step down at the end of the upcoming series, which begins on May 15.

During her time as host, the programme has become one of the most popular on BBC Radio 4, regularly topping the list of most-requested radio shows on BBC iPlayer. Her last appearance as host will be on Friday June 26.

She said: ‘The News Quiz is one of the things I am proudest of in my professional life. From the beginning when I arrived as a rather nervous panellist almost a quarter of a century ago, I have always enjoyed it and was overwhelmed when asked to become host back in 2006.

‘Now I have decided it is time to move on and of course, I feel sad but I think it’s the right moment. The show is in great shape and like a good house guest, you should always depart when people still wish you’d stay a bit longer.

‘Radio 4 is family to me and I have no intention of disappearing entirely and who knows, maybe I can come back one day to The News Quiz as a guest and muck about a bit?’

Regular panellist Susan Calman tweeted: 'Very sad that Sandi's leaving the News Quiz. She's a fantastic host, a brilliant friend and wonderful to laugh with.' And fellow comic Justin Moorhouse added that she was 'the nicest person I ever worked with'.

Last year Toksvig was awarded an OBE for Services to Broadcasting in the New Year’s Honours List and was inducted to the Radio Academy’s Hall of Fame. She first appeared as a panellist in 1992, when the programme was chaired by Barry Took.

Radio 4’s 6.30pm Friday night comedy slot reaches an audience of 2.3million every week and holds the accolade of being the most popular single BBC podcast, having been downloaded 116 million times since its launch in September 2007.

Gwyneth Williams, controller of BBC Radio 4, says: ‘Sandi is one of Radio 4’s most talented and respected presenters. She will be hugely missed from The News Quiz and I want to thank her for her contribution over so many years. She brought her own inimitable wit, humanity and intelligence to The News Quiz - and above all that irresistible laugh. The News Quiz is in excellent health; thank you, Sandi, for chairing it with such style.’

No replacement has yet been chosen, and Radio 4 says it will make an announcement later this year.

The News Quiz was created by producer John Lloyd in 1977 – before he went on to work on the likes of Blackadder, Not The Nine O'Clock News and QI. Barry Norman was the first chairman with Private Eye editor Richard Ingrams and Punch editor Alan Coren as team captains. Simon Hoggart took over from 1981 to 1986, then Took until 1995, when Hoggart returned until March 2006, when Toksvig took over.

Published: 28 Apr 2015