A HUGE BBC show has undergone a presenter shake-up as two new faces join the flagship programme.
Victoria Derbyshire, 56, is known for her role as the lead presenter of the BBC Two current affairs show, Newsnight.
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Now, the publicly funded corporation has announced a massive change to the presenting lineup.
Victoria will continue to front the show every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
However, Radio 4 presenter Paddy O’Connell will present the programme on a Thursday.
Former Times Radio presenter Matt Chorley will take to the airwaves on Friday after he joined Radio 5 Live earlier this year.
He will continue with his duties at the radio station and will remain part of the team of the popular podcast, Americast.
Both of the pair completely gushed over the programme as its terrestrial TV ratings continue to rise following a change in format last year.
Paddy said: “Newsnight is the programme I’ve watched since I was eighteen and I’m awed to be joining the team growing the audience with the cracking work of Victoria Derbyshire.
“Ten thirty pm is now the breaking news hour for the new world order, and I’ll be there every Thursday in a frenzied news cycle turning to the best guests as we’re all looking for answers.”
Meanwhile, Matt Chorley exclaimed: “I’m so excited to be joining Newsnight, a programme with such an incredible history which has been reinvented by Victoria and the brilliant team in the last year.
“If you’ve ever shouted at the news ‘well what does that mean?’ the moment you hear that electric guitar of the Newsnight theme, you know you’re going to get answers.”
He added: “After spending the week skulking about in Westminster, what better way to spend Friday night than passing on all the gossip and intrigue I’ve picked up, joined by smart, funny and surprising guests?”
Since Beeb veteran Kirsty Wark departed the programme last July, both stars have fronted the current affairs show on an ad hoc basis.
They will also officially start their regular duties this month as Victoria continues in her Lead Presenter role.
Newsnight’s Political Editor, Nick Watt, Faisal Islam, and Katie Razzall will still continue to appear on-screen regularly.
BBC departures and returns
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Newsnight continues every weeknight on BBC Two at 10:30pm.
