View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Eddie Mair pleased after Newsnight’s Evan Davis appointment brings end to ‘months of tedious speculation’

By Press Gazette

Eddie Mair has spoken of his relief after Evan Davis was announced as the new host of Newsnight – because it puts an end to the "tedious speculation" linking him to the job.

Radio 4's Today programme presenter Davis was unveiled as Jeremy Paxman's replacement on the BBC2 programme earlier this month – on the same day the BBC annual report was released.

Female Newsnight presenters Laura Kuenssberg, Kirsty Wark and Emily Maitlis, as well as Channel 4's Krishnan Guru-Murthy and PM presenter Mair, had been tipped for the position.

Mair wrote in Radio Times magazine: "It's a great appointment by Newsnight, and even greater that it brings to an end the months of tedious speculation – and betting – about who could replace Mr Paxman. Speculation in which my name kept coming up."

He joked: "I realised how absurd it had all become when I was standing in the queue at William Hill's and the guy in front, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, turned around and asked whether I too was putting money on Andrew Neil."

Mair said that it was "flattering" to be linked to the post but joked that BBC bosses had written to him to tell him that he would not replace Paxman because he has a face and body for radio and a terrible "screen manner".

Paxman bowed out of the news programme after 25 years in June.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Davis, who will be leaving Today, will be anchoring the programme three nights a week from the autumn.

Topics in this article : , ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network