Andrew Neil is to step down as the presenter of the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme after five years in the post. He will be replaced by the former Channel 4 News journalist Sarah Smith.

Neil, who is in the process of renegotiating his BBC contract, will continue to present Daily Politics and This Week. A BBC spokeswoman said he would “still be an important figure in BBC news politics” but she could not specify any further what his role would be.

Smith, who started at the BBC and returned from ITN to be the public broadcaster’s first Scotland editor in 2015, expressed her happiness at being given the new role.

“Andrew is one of the great political interviewers who leaves big shoes to fill. I am thrilled to take on this role at such an exciting time in British politics. I am very much looking forward to working with the Sunday Politics team. For me now, if it is a Sunday it’s the Sunday Politics.” she said.

sarah smith (@BBCsarahsmith) I'm exited to be taking over BBC Sunday Politics #BBCSP next month, replacing the brilliant @afneil

Neil edited the Sunday Times for more than a decade before joining the BBC. He also worked under Rupert Murdoch as the founding chairman of Sky TV.

He said Smith would prove a “great choice” as presenter, adding: “I loved presenting Sunday Politics, it was a privilege and honour to hold the political discourse up to the light for all those years.”



Neil said he would “miss [the job] greatly”, but was delighted to continue in his other BBC roles, as well as other projects. “I wish Sarah the best of luck with this challenging and wonderful production,” he said.

Smith will take the chair when the programme returns on Sunday 17 September, after its summer break.