BBC favourite Libby could quit over new

shorter show

THE BBC could be forced to make an embarrassing U-turn after announcing that Libby Purves would remain at Radio 4 following the decision to axe Midweek, which she has presented for 33 years.

Purves put her name to a press release last week stating that she would front a new half-hour show about theatre, to be broadcast once a month on Saturdays, after Midweek is scrapped in March.

However that programme is now up in the air, I gather. ‘There’s a real fear that Libby could pull out,’ a BBC source says. ‘The format for the theatre show is still very unclear. It was announced in a rush to keep Libby on board but it’s a much-reduced commitment in terms of airtime. We think she might be reconsidering.’

Radio 4’s controller Gwyneth Williams says: ‘Theatre is having a golden moment and Libby is the perfect person to bring that story to the Radio 4 audience with her knowledge and passion.’

The BBC is desperate to retain older, female voices but Ms Williams will have to do a better job of selling the show to Ms Purves, 66, if the presenter isn’t to follow Theresa May by triggering her own Article 50 at the end of March and making her exit from the BBC.