Former BBC giant Andrew Neil returns to political TV broadcasting… for Channel 4 in a blow to the BBC
- The new political show has a working title of Sunday Politics with Andrew Neil
- The half-hour weekly programme is due to air in May in a blow to the BBC
- While at the BBC, Neil presented This Week, Daily Politics and Sunday Politics
- He stepped down as chairman and host of prime-time show on GB News last year
Andrew Neil is to host a Sunday night political show for Channel 4 in an embarrassing blow for the BBC.
Neil will examine the ‘biggest events of the moment’ during the live ten-part series.
The half-hour weekly programme, which has a working title of Sunday Politics with Andrew Neil, will air in May.
Neil, 72, said he was ‘honoured and delighted’ to present the show at what is ‘a pivotal point in the political week’.
Neil was a BBC political broadcaster for decades, presenting This Week, Daily Politics and BBC One’s Sunday Politics.
He left after his show was cancelled.
Andrew Neil (pictured) is to host a Sunday night political show for Channel 4 in an embarrassing blow for the BBC
Neil said: ‘I’m honoured and delighted to be presenting a new Sunday night political show for Channel 4.
‘Sunday night is a pivotal point in the political week – we can sweep up what’s happened in the previous week, mop up what’s been in the Sunday papers and talk shows and throw forward to the upcoming week.
‘We’ll aim to do all of that and more.’
Neil’s career as a political presenter and interviewer has spanned three decades, and he is the chairman and editor-in-chief of Press Holdings Media Group, publishers of The Spectator and other related titles.
He stepped down as the chairman and host of a prime-time show on GB News last year.
Neil is a former Sunday Times editor and was one of the BBC’s top political broadcasters for many years.
Louisa Compton, Channel 4’s head of news, current affairs and specialist factual and sport, said: ‘I’m delighted to be bringing Andrew Neil to Channel 4 at a time where politics forms such a huge part of our national conversation.
‘Andrew’s new show will deliver big name politicians answering the questions the public want to hear. It’s another example of our huge commitment to public service journalism and current affairs at Channel 4.’
Ian Rumsey, managing director of television at ITN productions, said: ‘We’re delighted to be working with Andrew and Channel 4 on this new show.
‘If ever there was a time when Britain needed forensic questioning, brilliant political insight and to hold those in power to account, it’s now. And there’s no finer broadcaster to do that.’
Andrew Neil, former Sunday Times editor and one of the BBC top political broadcasters for many years, stepped down as the chairman and host of a prime-time show on GB News last year
Sophie Raworth has hosted BBC One’s flagship Sunday morning current affairs programme, titled Sunday Morning, since January.
The hour-long show, starting at 9am, was previously known to viewers as The Andrew Marr Show.
Sky News’ Sunday morning news and current affairs programme, Trevor Phillips on Sunday, airs from 8.30am.
Neil presented the Channel 4 programme Boris Johnson: Has He Run Out of Road? in January.
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