Irish Daily Mirror

Fiona is ‘pick as Question Time’s host’

- BY NEIL MURPHY BY KELLY ALLEN news@mirror.co.uk

Fiona Bruce FIONA Bruce has been offered the job as host of BBC One’s Question Time, it was reported last night.

If she accepts she would be its first female presenter in 40 years and replace veteran host David Dimbleby, 80, who is expected to leave this year.

Fiona, who has hosted Crimewatch and Antiques Roadshow, would have to quit some presenting roles.

A formal announceme­nt is expected within days.

A BBC spokeswoma­n said they would not comment on “speculatio­n”.

Fiona, 54, auditioned for the position behind closed doors in October.

Broadcaste­rs Victoria Derbyshire, Kirsty Wark, Emily Maitlis, Samira Ahmed and Nick Robinson had also been touted as potential candidates.

Jason Donovan says hello ROBBIE Williams and Ayda Field want to become the new Richard and Judy following their stint on The X Factor.

Pop star Robbie, 44, who has been married to Ayda, 39, for eight years, said: “We’ve got a few things in the pipeline.

“TV is something I’m going to be doing and we will be doing something together. It’s very exciting. I’ve got at least my next 10 years mapped out.”

He joked the couple could be a “glamorous” alternativ­e to Richard and Judy, the husband and wife duo who fronted ITV’S This Morning from 1988 until 2001 and then their eponymous chat show.

American Ayda compared her and Robbie to 1950s US sitcom I Love Lucy, starring Lucille Ball as a dizzy housewife married to Cuban Ricky, played by real-life husband Desi Arnaz.

She said: “The sloppy American who married a foreigner sounds about right.”

The couple enjoyed a night out with children Teddy, six, and Charlton, four, at the VIP launch of Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London, where they tried the dodgems and met Jason Donovan.

Tomorrow, Robbie and Ayda will be reunited on The X Factor after he returned from his tour in South America, which meant he missed three X Factors.

Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers stepped in but he has lost two acts so Robbie has been left with duo Acacia and Aaliyah.

And the former Take That star admitted he had missed the ITV reality hit far more than expected. “It was quite hard being away because I’m addicted to it. I love it. It’s my favourite thing I’ve done in my career ever.

“I didn’t think I’d enjoy it but I am. It’s because I’m doing it with Ayda and it’s something fresh.”

The Loose Women panellist was thrilled he had returned, saying: “Niles was amazing but I’m so happy I’ve got my Rob back.” Richard and Judy Couple are in a spin

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 ??  ?? POPPING OUT DRIVE TIME Robbie and Ayda have fun on ride ICONS TAKE HAT
POPPING OUT DRIVE TIME Robbie and Ayda have fun on ride ICONS TAKE HAT
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