The show is in great shape and like a good house guest, you should always depart when people still wish you’d stay a bit longer.

Toksvig, who has hosted the show for nine years and chaired over 220 episodes, will step down at the end of the upcoming series, which begins on Friday 15 May. During her time as host, the programme has become one of the most popular on BBC Radio 4, attracting millions of listeners each week and regularly topping the list of most-requested radio shows on BBC iPlayer. The award-winning broadcaster and comedian will make her last appearance as host on Friday 26 June 2015.

Sandi, who as well as hosting The News Quiz, has written numerous books and plays, hosted her own TV series, appeared on an array of panel shows and is involved in charity and mentoring work, has made the difficult decision to leave the show to embark on a new and exciting stage of her career.

Sandi Toksvig says: “The News Quiz is one of the things I am proudest of in my professional life. From the beginning when I arrived as a rather nervous panellist almost a quarter of a century ago, I have always enjoyed it and was overwhelmed when asked to become host back in 2006.

“Now I have decided it is time to move on and of course, I feel sad but I think it’s the right moment. The show is in great shape and like a good house guest, you should always depart when people still wish you’d stay a bit longer.

“Radio 4 is family to me and I have no intention of disappearing entirely and who knows, maybe I can come back one day to The News Quiz as a guest and muck about a bit?”

Last year Sandi was awarded an OBE for Services to Broadcasting in the New Year’s Honours List and was inducted to the Radio Academy’s Hall of Fame. She first appeared as a panellist in 1992, when the programme was chaired by Barry Took. Friday Night Comedy reaches an audience of 2.3million every week and holds the accolade of being the most popular single BBC podcast, having been downloaded 116 million times globally since its launch in September 2007.

There have been over 100 panellists with Sandi as chair, including Armando Iannucci (also a former producer of the programme), regulars Susan Calman and Jeremy Hardy as well favourites such as David Mitchell, Jo Brand, Andy Hamilton, Phill Jupitus, Rebecca Front, Samira Ahmed and Sarah Millican.

Gwyneth Williams, Controller of BBC Radio 4, says: “Sandi is one of Radio 4’s most talented and respected presenters. She will be hugely missed from The News Quiz and I want to thank her for her contribution over so many years. She brought her own inimitable wit, humanity and intelligence to The News Quiz - and above all that irresistible laugh. The News Quiz is in excellent health; thank you, Sandi, for chairing it with such style.”

Radio 4 will now begin considering options in terms of the future host and will make an announcement later this year.

Notes to Editors

Radio 4 is the home of radio comedy in the UK with its distinctive mix of content, ranging from programmes with emerging writers and performers to classic formats and high profile comedians.

The News Quiz was first broadcast in 1977 and is now in its 86th series. The series, which was created by John Lloyd, was first chaired by Barry Norman and subsequently by Simon Hoggart and Barry Took before Sandi Toksvig took over in September 2006.

BBC Radio comedy’s continuing popularity can be seen in the fact that there has been over 116 million downloads globally of the BBC Radio 4 Friday Night comedy podcast since its September 2007 launch.

Ever-popular long-running shows such as I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue and The Now Show continue to delight audiences and Radio 4’s Just A Minute celebrated its 900th episode in 2014 - with the same host.

ER