Carolyn Quinn is to leave BBC Radio 4’s flagship morning news programme, Today, and will be replaced by BBC economics editor Evan Davis.
The BBC confirmed this afternoon that Quinn will leave the programme next spring to concentrate on other BBC projects. She presents Radio 4’s Westminster Hour and also appears on the afternoon news programme, PM.
Davis will take her place, presenting Today on rotation alongside current regulars John Humphrys, Sarah Montague, James Naughtie and Edward Stourton.
“It’s perhaps a bit annoying to take a break from my current job just at the very time the economy seems to be getting interesting,” said Davis.
“But Today is a radio institution and I’d obviously be mad to turn down a chance to present it.
“I tried it for two weeks over the summer, and found that if you can mentally re-classify the early mornings as late nights, they really don’t seem so bad.”
Quinn said leaving Today had been “a tough decision”.
“In recent months, my energies have been increasingly split three ways between working late nights as the presenter of the Westminster Hour, early mornings on Today and afternoons on PM,” she said.
“In order to focus on presenting The Westminster Hour full-time, now is the right moment to give up my part-time role on the Today programme.
“I’ve had a hugely enjoyable and fulfilling four years with the Today team, I wish them all the best for the future. “
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