Miles Jupp has quit as host of BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz after four years.

After twelve series at the helm Jupp will step down at the end of the current series.

During his time as host, the flagship comedy has continued to be one of the most popular on BBC Radio 4, attracting millions of listeners each week and regularly appearing at the top of the podcast charts in the Friday Night Comedy podcast. The award-winning comedian, actor and writer, who has chaired over 80 episodes, will make his last appearance as host on Friday 31 May.

As well as hosting The News Quiz, Jupp has performed across a wide variety of genres from stand-up comedy and theatre to television and Hollywood films. He has decided to leave the show to concentrate on other areas of his life and career.

He says: “I have really enjoyed hosting the News Quiz and I count myself as extremely lucky to have had this opportunity. Although one or two of the news stories we’ve been discussing on the show remain unresolved, the time is right for me.

I would now really like to focus more on acting and writing, and stepping down from this job will give me the flexibility to do this while also spending more time at home with my enormous family. I’m very grateful to the production staff, panellists, writers, technicians and newsreaders who all make the show what it is, and also to the listeners who are enthusiastic, loyal and - based on those who I bump into on trains and so forth - extremely polite. Thank you all

And with that, goodnight.”

Jupp first appeared as a panellist on the show in 2009, when the programme was chaired by Sandi Toksvig. During Miles’ time as host, panellists have included regulars such as the late Jeremy Hardy, Susan Calman and Hugo Rifkind as well as Angela Barnes, Mark Steel, Andy Hamilton, Desiree Burch, Kerry Godliman, Andy Zaltzman, Helen Lewis, Simon Evans, Frankie Boyle, Zoe Lyons and Ayesha Hazarika.

Sioned Wiliam, Commissioning Editor for Radio 4 Comedy says: “Miles has been a wonderful presenter, loved by panellists and audiences alike. I’d like to thank him for entertaining millions of Radio 4 listeners with his razor sharp wit, warmth and intelligence – and not forgetting that irrepressible laugh. He has expertly continued the great success of The News Quiz and will be hugely missed.”

The next host has not been announced yet.