Martha Kearney will step down from presenting BBC Radio 4’s Today, the BBC’s flagship morning news programme, after the UK general election. She will continue to present Today until then. Martha has presented Today for the last six years, having first joined the BBC in 1988.

Martha will continue working for BBC Radio 4 on a variety of projects after the election. She will begin presenting episodes of Open Country this spring, and later in the year will front a new interview series celebrating the natural world called This Natural Life. In each programme Martha will explore how nature has become a passion for her guest.

Martha Kearney says: “I have loved working on Today with its incredible reach and influence but now it’s time to move on to pastures new – literally. I am really looking forward to sharing my passion for nature in an exciting new series as well as a much-loved favourite programme. And I won’t be missing that 3am alarm call.

“I have been planning my move for a while now and the general election, which will be my eleventh, is the right point to move on.”

BBC Director-General, Tim Davie, says: “Martha has been an outstanding Today presenter, thanks to her hallmark incisive questioning, warmth, and connection with the audience. She is an immensely respected and popular journalist, and I’d like to thank her on behalf of the BBC and her millions of listeners.

“I’m delighted Martha’s illustrious BBC career will continue on Radio 4 – giving listeners outstanding programming beyond the election.”

Director of Speech and Controller of BBC Radio 4, Mohit Bakaya, says: “Martha is a brilliant journalist and presenter, who has navigated us through important news stories over the years, and led Radio 4’s coverage for significant national events, including the Queen’s funeral and King’s coronation. I am delighted that she is staying with Radio 4, bringing her considerable knowledge, passion and experience of the natural world to Open Country and our exciting new interview show, This Natural Life.”

Editor of Today, Owenna Griffiths, says: “It’s been my great privilege to be Martha’s editor both at The World at One and Today. She’s a journalist with great tenacity, insight and a wonderfully broad range of interests. Above all she’s a warm and generous colleague who will be missed by me and the team.”

Biography

Martha began her radio career as a phone operator at LBC before eventually joining the BBC’s On The Record in 1988.

Before her time on Today, Martha Kearney was the first woman presenter of Radio 4’s The World at One which she fronted for over a decade. This followed seven years as Newsnight’s political editor. Over the years she has interviewed prime ministers from Margaret Thatcher to Rishi Sunak. Outside the UK, she has covered several US elections and reported from Afghanistan and Israel.

Martha was also a regular presenter of Woman’s Hour from 1998 to 2007.

Martha’s love of nature can be seen through TV programmes she has presented including The Wonder of Bees and The Great Butterfly Adventure. For Today, she has presented live from Antarctica and the Arctic on the work of scientists in remote research stations.

Martha is the winner of multiple awards, including TRIC radio presenter of the year, Political Commentator of the Year, a BAFTA nomination for her coverage of Northern Ireland and Best Individual Contribution to Radio awarded by the Voice of The Listener and Viewer.