The BBC’s hunt for Laura Kuenssberg’s substitute has ended, after bosses introduced that Radio 4 presenter Chris Mason will take up the £260,000 publish of Political Editor subsequent month.
Yorkshire-born Mason, the present host of debate present Any Questions? on Radio 4, was tipped to be the favorite following studies that Company chiefs had been sad with the all-female shortlist, which included ITV Information’s Anushka Asthana and Sophy Ridge from Sky.
The 41-year-old, a Cambridge geography candidate who has spent most of his profession protecting Westminster and has labored on the BBC since 2002, had beforehand dominated himself out of the working – however is believed to have utilized for the publish final month after he was ‘courted by rival broadcasters’.
Thought to be an ‘adept broadcaster’, with ‘sound judgement’ and ‘a aptitude for political evaluation’ by his colleagues, Mason, who now earns lower than £150,000, would see his pay rise shoot as much as no less than £260,000, Kuenssberg’s reported wage.
Kuenssberg, a titan on the earth of political journalism who was accused of Left-wing bias by the Conservative Occasion, revealed she was stepping down as Political Editor in Autumn final 12 months, together with her remaining project on the BBC set to be the native elections protection subsequent month.
She was final month introduced as the brand new everlasting presenter of the BBC’s Sunday morning politics present, changing Andrew Marr.
Talking with a Yorkshire accent, Mason’s appointment might fight criticisms of the broadcaster for being London-centric and never having sufficient regional voices.
Tradition Secretary Nadine Dorries beforehand instructed the BBC to current plans to enhance regional and sophistication range within the company earlier than agreeing the brand new licence price settlement.
Mason would seemingly should cease presenting Any Questions?, it’s understood, nevertheless it might later put him in good stead to take over Fiona Bruce on Query Time, The Sunday Instances reported.
In a press release, Mason stated: ‘What an amazing privilege to tackle what, for me, is essentially the most extraordinary job in British broadcasting and journalism. I clamber upon the shoulders of giants like Laura, Nick and Andrew with a smattering of trepidation and a shedload of pleasure and enthusiasm.
‘To guide the perfect group of journalists within the enterprise on the perfect information patch of the lot is one thing I might by no means even dared dream of. I am unable to wait to get began.’
Kuenssberg tweeted her congratulations, writing: ‘Big congrats and welcome to the perfect every day job within the enterprise, to colleague, nice good friend and naturally #newscaster @ChrisMasonBBC’.
The interim director of BBC Information, Jonathan Munro, stated: ‘Chris has been an distinctive correspondent in a rare time for British politics. His calm, incisive evaluation and signature candid type have been invaluable for audiences when navigating complicated tales.
‘His ambition and imaginative and prescient for the political editor position is actually thrilling and I want him each success within the new publish.’
The BBC has confirmed that Chris Mason is changing Laura Kuenssberg because the broadcaster’s Political Editor subsequent month after Company bosses rejected an all-female shortlist
Kuenssberg revealed she was stepping down as political editor 5 months in the past, together with her remaining project on the BBC set to be the native elections protection subsequent month
Mason, who studied geography at Cambridge, took over Radio 4’s Any Questions? present, a topical dialogue with a panel of individuals from politics and media who’re posed questions by the general public, in October 2019. After spending twenty years on the BBC, Mason, who’s from Grassington in north Yorkshire, has spent most of his profession protecting Westminster (pictured amidst an anti-Brexit pro-Europe demonstration)
Mason, the presenter of Radio 4’s Any Questions?, was tipped to be the favorite – regardless of beforehand ruling himself out of the job – after BBC chiefs had been stated to be sad with candidates together with ITV Information’s Anushka Asthana and Sophy Ridge from Sky
Beth Rigby, Sky Information’s political editor and presenter, was additionally amongst these congratulation Chris Mason on his appointment as her counterpart at BBC Information.
She tweeted: ‘What an ideal selection. Big congratulations @ChrisMasonBBC and welcome to the Pol Ed position – the perfect and busiest beat within the enterprise. I am wanting ahead to seeing much more of you Chris!’.
Mason started his journalism profession as a trainee at ITN the week after 9/11, earlier than shifting to BBC Radio Newcastle one 12 months later. He additionally then labored for five Stay, the Regional Political Unit, the Westminster Hour on Radio 4 and in Brussels as a Europe correspondent.
Mason took over as presenter for Radio 4’s Any Questions?, a topical dialogue with a panel of individuals from politics and media who’re posed questions by the general public, in October 2019, and is often on the podcast Newscast.
After spending twenty years on the BBC, Mason, who’s from Grassington in north Yorkshire, has spent most of his profession protecting Westminster.
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