David Dimbleby has signed a new contract to present BBC1’s Question Time, starting with a Labour leadership special debate between Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith.

The presenter’s current deal with the BBC was due to expire this summer, had initially been rumoured to be stepping down from Question Time when his contract ran out.



However Dimbleby, who fronted BBC1’s coverage of the EU referendum and played a key role for the corporation at last year’s general election, subsequently said he was keen to continue hosting the weekly debate show



The BBC confirmed that the veteran broadcaster, who has hosted the programme since 1994, has signed a new contract but did not indicate the length of the deal.



Question Time will return on 8 September live from Oldham, Greater Manchester, with Dimbleby to chair a debate between the Labour leadership contenders.

Dimbleby said: “It’s good news that the two contenders for the Labour leadership have agreed to appear in front of a Question Time audience,. As we saw in the EU referendum debates, and the general election debates, there’s nothing like a Question Time audience for discovering and testing different political views.”