Bruce leads the field in all-women race for Question Time role
FIONA BRUCE has emerged as the front-runner to replace David Dimbleby as host of Question Time, according to sources who say BBC bosses want to give the programme a “softer” feel.
Bruce, the News At Ten anchor and presenter of Antiques Roadshow, is understood to be the favourite from an all-women shortlist which also includes Emily Maitlis and Kirsty Wark, the Newsnight presenters.
Nick Robinson, Samira Ahmed, and Victoria Derbyshire are all believed to have been ruled out for the coveted role after secret pilot editions were filmed in front of live audiences in September.
A BBC insider told The Sunday Telegraph: “At the moment, Fiona seems to be the favourite as the producers are keen to give the show a softer feel – although there are concerns she may not be political enough and may not want to relinquish the other work she does, such as Antiques Roadshow.
“Emily did very well in the audition but appeared a bit more nervous than Kirsty, who injected more of her personality into the pilot.”
Another source said the candidates had been “kept completely in the dark” about who was going to get the job, considered the jewel in the crown of news presenter roles at the BBC.
The final decision will be taken by Charlotte Moore, the controller of BBC One, Fran Unsworth, the corporation’s director of news, and Tony Hall, the director-general.
Television veteran Dimbleby will step down from the show he has hosted for the past 25 years on December 13.
Announcing his departure in June, he said: “At the end of the year I will have been chairing Question Time for a quarter of a century and I have decided that this is the right moment to leave.
“It has been a privilege to work for a programme which brings voters face to face with those in power. I am grateful to the production teams and to the BBC, who have made this possible.
“It has been exhilarating following the twists and turns of British politics from John Major in 1994, through the Blair and Brown years to Cameron and May. I am not giving up broadcasting.
“After years in the studio, I plan to return to my first love: reporting.”
The search for a new presenter comes after the BBC gender pay gap scandal, which exposed an embarrassing disparity between the salaries commanded by senior men and high-profile women at the corporation.
Dimbleby’s own salary was not published under a loophole that meant shows made by independent production companies, including Question Time, were exempt.
However, he is thought to be among the BBC’s highest earners.
He is one of only three presenters in the history of Question Time, which was previously anchored by Peter Sissons from 1989 to 1993 and Robin Day from 1979 to 1989.
During his BBC career, Dimbleby has also presented programmes such as Panorama and chaired many debates, including the leaders’ debates in the run-up to general elections since 2010.
He has been the BBC’s anchorman for all general elections since 1979 and presented the broadcaster’s coverage of the first referendum on Europe, a role he repeated in 2016 for the BBC’s coverage of the EU referendum.
Asked in a magazine interview whether she wanted the Question Time job shortly before the vacancy was announced, Wark said: “I think there will be many people when David Dimbleby decides he doesn’t want to do it any longer. I think I will be one of them, but I’m sure lots of people will throw their hats in the ring for that.”
A BBC spokesman refused to comment. Sources said the BBC does not comment on speculation while the recruitment process is continuing. won legions of fans presenting the news for the BBC for 28 years as well as hosting radio programmes.
He also delighted younger viewers with his narration of children’s television show Mary, Mungo & Midge.
John Simpson, the BBC world affairs editor, tweeted yesterday: “Richard Baker, who has just died, was one of the finest newsreaders of modern times: highly intelligent, thoughtful, gentle, yet tough in defence of his principles.”
Steve Penk, a radio presenter, wrote: “Richard’s voice will always bring back such warm wonderful memories for me as a child, listening to him as the voice of Mary, Mungo & Midge.”
Simon McCoy, a newsreader for the BBC, said Baker was a “huge” influence on him and was “the” newsreader of his generation.
Baker was born in Willesden, north London, in 1925. He read history and modern languages at Peterhouse College, Cambridge, but his studies were interrupted by his war service in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves.
After training as an actor, he wrote to the BBC asking for work and landed his first job for the broadcaster, presenting a classical music programme.
Baker leaves two sons: Andrew, an executive at The Telegraph, and James, a television executive.