No permanent chair for the show's 100th series

Radio 4’s News Quiz is to have a guest presenter each week as it celebrates its 100th series.

Nish Kumar, Angela Barnes, Andy Zaltzman, Phil Wang, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Zoe Lyons, Patrick Kielty, and Andrew Maxwell will each be hosting an episode when the topical comedy show returns on August 30.

And for some of the comedians it will inevitably be seen as an audition to take over the position permanently, after Miles Jupp stood down earlier this year.

First in the chair is Lyons, who said: 'What an absolute treat to be allowed to take the helm on this brilliant show. Miles left impossibly big shoes to fill so I’ll have to bring my own rather sensible slip-ons for the occasion.’

Kumar, Barnes and Prichard-McLean have all perviously hosted Radio 4 Extra’s Newsjack. 

Barnes said: ‘When I started comedy I did an interview for  Chortle and they asked me what my dream job would be. I said it was to be on The News Quiz panel so, as you can imagine I’m pretty excited to now have the chance to host.’

And Wang – who recently recorded a stand-up special for  Radio 4   said: ‘It’s about time I hosted The News Quiz. For too long has it been presented by the informed.’

Sioned Wiliam, Commissioning Editor for Comedy at BBC Radio 4 and 4 Extra, says: ‘It’s great to be celebrating 100 series of The News Quiz with such a brilliant list of comedy names, bringing their own spin to the show. As one of Radio 4’s flagship programmes, The News Quiz attracts millions of listeners on-air as well as to the chart topping podcast. I’m excited to bring a variety of talents to guest host.’

The News Quiz was created by John Lloyd, who went on to produce the likes of Spitting Image, Blackadder and QI.

Itwas first broadcast in 1977 with Barry Norman as chairman. Over 42 years, regular panellists have included Jeremy Hardy, Susan Calman, Hugo Rifkind, t Linda Smith, Simon Evans, Lucy Porter, Mark Steel, Rebecca Front, Ian Hislop, Samira Ahmed, and Ayesha Hazarika. Former hosts include Sandi Toksvig, Simon Hoggart, Barry Took and most recently, Miles Jupp.

Published: 14 Aug 2019