Emma Barnett to be main presenter on BBC's Woman's Hour

When first Jenni Murray and then Jane Garvey announced they would stepping down as presenters of Woman's Hour the BBC knew it had a tough job on its hands.
Finding suitable replacements for such experienced and much loved broadcasters was never going to be simple. However today’s announcement that the 5 Live and Newsnight presenter Emma Barnett will be taking at least one of the vacant slots seems like a good move.
Barnett is both a fine broadcaster and already closely connected with the Woman’s Hour brand having presented both the late-night version and chaired the Woman’s Hour Power List.
She also bears the distinction of having been the youngest host in the BBC Radio 4 show’s history, having guest presented it at the age of 26.
It is understood that Barnett will be the main Woman’s Hour host from Mondays to Thursdays with an additional, yet to be named broadcaster, presenting the Friday and Saturday editions.
Woman’s hour is one of the longest running programmes on British radio having been originally launched in 1946.
Jenni Murray is stepping down after 33 years with the BBC and Jane Garvey is leaving after 13 years.
For Dame Jenni Murray, who is also a popular speaker with Clive Conway Productions, it really is the end of an era as she retires as the longest serving presenter in the show’s long and illustrious history.