BBC picks all-female shortlist of candidates to replace Andrew Marr on Sunday morning political show

The BBC is believed to have picked an all-female shortlist of candidates to replace Andrew Marr on its Sunday morning political show.

Political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Radio 4 Today programme host Mishal Husain and newsreader Sophie Raworth are thought likely to be among four under consideration after Marr, 62, left the broadcaster in December.

Other female presenters who have been tipped for the role include Woman’s Hour presenter Emma Barnett and Question Time host Fiona Bruce. 

It means high-profile BBC male journalists – possibly including Nick Robinson and Amol Rajan – would appear to be out of the race.

Insiders said at the outset they expected a female presenter given that the role was held by Sir David Frost before Marr.

Miss Raworth, who fronts the 6pm and 10pm bulletins, took over as presenter of BBC1’s flagship Sunday morning politics show in January on a temporary basis. She was regarded as a stand-in, but has impressed bosses with her performance.

In December, Miss Kuenssberg said she was stepping down after seven years as political editor to take on a ‘senior’ presenting and reporting job. 

Marr left the BBC after 21 years to host shows on LBC and Classic FM, among other things, saying he wanted ‘to get my own voice back’.