Emma Barnett, of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, is the frontrunner to become the new presenter of the Today programme after Martha Kearney announced she was to step down.
On Monday, Kearney, 66, said she would leave the flagship show after the next general election, and would begin presenting episodes of Radio 4’s countryside magazine programme Open Country as well as This Natural Life, a new interview series celebrating the natural world, later in 2024.
Sources at the BBC said Barnett, the main host of Woman’s Hour since January 2021, was very highly regarded, and indicated that editors of the morning current affairs show would probably want to hire another woman to replace Kearney and work alongside Mishal Husain, Nick Robinson, Justin Webb and Amol Rajan.
There has been no formal decision about the replacement, the Guardian understands.
Barnett, who was born in Manchester, began her eponymous show on BBC Radio 5 live in 2016 and won the radio broadcaster of the year award in 2018. As well as being on BBC2’s Newsnight presenters’ rota, she has also helmed Question Time, The Andrew Marr Show and Politics Live.
Her book, Period, documented her struggles with endometriosis and adenomyosis, when endometrial tissue grows into the uterus’s muscular wall.
The departure of Kearney, who has presented the Today programme for six years, is likely to be seen as a significant loss of experience. Kearney was the first female presenter of Radio 4’s The World at One and was also political editor of Newsnight. The news of her exit comes after Kirsty Wark, 69, announced that she was leaving BBC Two’s Newsnight after 30 years.
Announcing her departure, Kearney said she had loved her stint in one of the UK’s highest-pressure roles but would not miss waking up at 3am to present the programme.
“I have loved working on Today with its incredible reach and influence but now it’s time to move on to pastures new – literally,” she said. “I am really looking forward to sharing my passion for nature in an exciting new series, as well as a much-loved favourite programme. And I won’t be missing that 3am alarm call.”
She added: “I have been planning my move for a while now and the general election, which will be my 11th, is the right point to move on.”
Tim Davie, the BBC director general, said: “Martha has been an outstanding Today presenter, thanks to her hallmark incisive questioning, warmth and connection with the audience.
“She is an immensely respected and popular journalist, and I’d like to thank her on behalf of the BBC and her millions of listeners. I’m delighted Martha’s illustrious BBC career will continue on Radio 4, giving listeners outstanding programming beyond the election.”
