June 6, 2018updated 07 Jun 2018 10:14am

ITV’s Peston on Sunday to move to new slot after evening repeat proved more popular with viewers

ITV’s current affairs show Peston on Sunday will move to a new midweek slot in the autumn.

ITV News political editor Robert Peston’s weekly 10am show will move to a Wednesday night slot after ITV News at Ten, putting it up against BBC Newsnight, and will be called Peston.

The programme, which attracts big names in the world of politics, began in May 2016, six months after Peston’s own move to ITV from his role as BBC economics editor.

In September 2016 a repeat at 10.15pm on Sunday was introduced, which soon became more popular than the morning slot, usually bringing in at least double the number of viewers, according to ITV.

Peston said he was “pleased and excited for the move”, adding that it would enable him to take advantage of what is often the biggest political day of the week what with Prime Minister’s Questions.

He said: “I am immensely proud of what we have created at Peston on Sunday. Peston, in its new slot, will retain its blend of agenda-setting interviews, digital interaction with the audience, cutting-edge graphical analysis, informality and fun, with some exciting new elements.

“There is no more important time to be challenging our leaders and influencers on the issues that matter to ITV’s viewers – with the UK facing the most momentous political choices for a generation: on Brexit, on how to fund and run vital public services, on how to solve the housing crisis, on how to end the record-breaking stagnation of living standards.

“At the new Peston we aim to be at the heart of the national debate, but never pompously or boringly”.

ITV’s director of news and current affairs Michael Jermey said: “Robert and the team have done a great job in creating what we believe is the most engaging and interesting political interview programme on television.

“We look forward to Peston, in its new slot, providing viewers with great political conversation and analysis on what is often the most interesting political day of the week.”

Picture: ITV’s Peston on Sunday