‘I am keen to get my own voice back’: Andrew Marr to leave BBC after 21 years
Andrew Marr has announced he is leaving the BBC after 21 years.
The veteran journalist and broadcaster, who has presented the BBC’s flagship political programme the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday mornings for the past 16 years, said he will be moving to Global “to write and present political and cultural shows and to write for newspapers”.
Breaking the news on Twitter, Marr, 62, told his followers he is “keen to get my own voice back”, adding that the new roles would give him “a new freedom” to do journalism with “no filter”.
Andrew Marr hosts the BBC’s flagship Sunday morning political programme The Andrew Marr Show
“Personal announcement. After 21 years, I have decided to move on from the BBC,” his statement posted on social media said.
“l leave behind many happy memories and wonderful colleagues. But from the New Year I am moving to Global to write and present political and cultural shows, and to write for newspapers.
“I think British politics and public life are going to go through an even more turbulent decade, and as I’ve said, I am keen to get my own voice back.”
“I have been doing the Andrew Marr show every Sunday morning for 16 years now and that is probably more than enough time for anybody!”
Director General of the BBC Tim Davie thanked Andrew Marr for his long service to the broadcaster
A statement released by broadcaster Global said Marr will present brand new programmes on LBC and Classic FM next year, including an opinion-led programme broadcast on LBC “where he will give his view on the biggest issues of the moment”.
A new programme on Classic FM will see the veteran broadcaster playing music and “interviewing guests from the worlds of politics and the arts”.
Marr will also write a regular column for LBC’s website and present a new weekly podcast for Global, the broadcaster said.
The announcement comes less than a month after The Guardian reported that Laura Kuenssberg was in talks to step down as the BBC’s political editor.
The newspaper suggested that after six years at the helm, Kuenssberg could become a presenter on the Today programme as part of a major reshuffle of senior on-air staff.
Andrew Marr said the new roles would give him ‘a new freedom’ to do journalism with ‘no filter’
Marr’s departure means there will be a vacancy to take his political programme’s prime time Sunday morning slot.
Among those likely to be strongly tipped to take over include BBC Radio 4 Today presenters Mishal Husain and Nick Robinson and outgoing BBC North America Editor Jon Sopel.
Marr said he will be taking up his new roles “from the New Year”.
In a statement released by Global, he said: “Coming to Global gives me a new freedom – to do fast-paced, very regular political journalism on LBC with no filter, in entirely my own voice.
“On Classic FM, I’ll be exploring my love of classical music, and culture generally, with some surprising guests. I feel I’m joining a young, hungrily ambitious and exciting company and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Director General of the BBC, Tim Davie, paid tribute to Marr for his long service to the broadcaster.
Representatives of the BBC said Andrew Marr is a ‘brilliant journalist’
“Andrew Marr has been a brilliant journalist and presenter during his time at the BBC.
“He leaves an unmatched legacy of outstanding political interviews and landmark programmes.
“We wish him well for the next chapter.”
Fran Unsworth, the BBC’s outgoing director of news and current affairs, added: “Throughout his long and distinguished career at the BBC, Andrew has been a firm favourite with our audiences.
“Andrew started at the BBC as a knowledgeable and insightful political editor and went on to become a feature of the UK’s Sunday mornings, on Sunday AM, which became the Andrew Marr Show. He is a fantastic presenter and interviewer, whose wisdom and skill will be a loss to our screens.
“We thank him greatly for his years of service and wish him the best of luck in his new role.”
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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