Miles Jupp to take over from Sandi Toksvig on Radio 4’s News Quiz
Sandi Toksvig has officially left Radio 4’s News Quiz, after a special goodbye episode following her decision to quit the show and go into politics.
The out comedian announced earlier this year that she planned to quit her role on Radio 4′s The News Quiz in order to focus on launching the Women’s Equality Party.
Ms Toksvig has chaired the series – in which panellists give their input on regular stories of the week – since 2006, turning it into one of Radio 4’s most popular shows.
After announcing her foray into politics she continued to host for the remainder of its current series, but bowed out in an episode last week.
One of her final gags was about anti-gay Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Referencing controversy over strikes at the port of Calais, she quipped: “It was really weird seeing David Cameron defending the French. I thought, oh my god, it’s like seeing Vladimir Putin in a pair of hot pants at the front of a pride march.”
Despite leaving to join the Women’s Equality party, ironically the entire panel for her final episode was male.
Miles Jupp was announced as the new host this week.
The comedian, who is best known for appearing as Archie in kids’ show Balamory, said: “It is a massive honour to follow in the footsteps of Barrys Norman and Took, of Simon Hoggart and the delectable Sandi Toksvig and be asked to take on this role.
“Sandi has been remarkable in her time in charge of The News Quiz and her legacy will live on forever amongst listeners.
“Following her departure my first job will be to lead the regulars and listeners through as many of the stages of grief as are ultimately deemed necessary (by a completely independent arbiter).
“Then it will simply be a matter of dumbing it down and sexing it up. Or vice versa, depending entirely on the circumstances.”
Toksvig explained previously: “I have made jokes over and over and over again about politics and, do you know, this election I’ve had enough… and I have decided that instead of making jokes about it, I need to participate.”
“So I am involved in the founding of a new political party. It’s called the Women’s Equality Party. It is a fantastic group of women – and indeed men – who have decided that enough is enough and we need to make some changes.”
“Clearly, if I’m going to be taking part in the political scene, it wouldn’t be appropriate sitting there making jokes about it.”
Her new party plans to stand candidates in 2020.
