Toksvig, who has hosted the show for 28 series in nine years and chaired over 220 episodes, will leave at the end of the upcoming series, which begins on Friday 15 May. During her time as host, the programme has become one of the most popular on Radio 4, attracting millions of listeners each week and regularly topping the list of most-requested radio shows on BBC iPlayer.
The award-winning broadcaster and comedian will make her last appearance as host on Friday 26 June 2015. Radio 4 will make an announcement later this year regarding a future host.
Sandi, who as well as hosting The News Quiz, has written numerous books and plays, hosted her own TV series, appeared on an array of panel shows and is involved in charity and mentoring work, has made the difficult decision to leave the show to embark on a new and exciting stage of her career.
Toksvig says: “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?”
Last year Sandi 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. Friday Night Comedy 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 globally since its launch in September 2007.
There have been over 100 panellists with Sandi as chair, including Armando Iannucci (also a former producer of the programme), regulars Susan Calman and Jeremy Hardy as well favourites such as David Mitchell, Jo Brand, Andy Hamilton, Phill Jupitus, Rebecca Front, Samira Ahmed and Sarah Millican.
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.”
