The BBC has appointed World Service Group director Fran Unsworth as its new director of news and current affairs.

Unsworth, who replaces James Harding in the New Year, is also currently deputy director of news and current affairs.

She first joined the BBC in 1980, starting her career in local radio, and has already done the role to which she has now been appointed, having acted as director of news and current affairs from November 2012 to August 2013.