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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/aug/23/andrew-neil-steps-down-as-sunday-politics-host
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Andrew Neil steps down as Sunday Politics host | Andrew Neil steps down as Sunday Politics host |
| (5 months later) | |
| Sarah Smith will take hotseat when BBC programme returns from summer break in mid-September | |
| Kevin Rawlinson | |
| Wed 23 Aug 2017 11.23 BST | |
| Last modified on Wed 23 Aug 2017 12.16 BST | |
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| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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. |
| I'm exited to be taking over BBC Sunday Politics #BBCSP next month, replacing the brilliant @afneil | 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. | 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.” | 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. | 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. | Smith will take the chair when the programme returns on Sunday 17 September, after its summer break. |
| Andrew Neil | |
| BBC | |
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