Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby is to step down from fronting the BBC's general election coverage – after his ninth and final time.

He will be the lead presenter of the election night programme next year, but will hand over the reins to Huw Edwards for future years.

Edwards had long been expected to take over and there was speculation that he would have been in position step in for the 2015 election, expected to take place on May 7.