Today programme: Nick Robinson to take over from James Naughtie

James Naughtie held the role for 21 years

BBC political editor Nick Robinson who is joining the flagship Radio 4 Today Programme to replace Jim Naughtie who announced his departure this week. (Yui Mok/PA Wire )

Nick Robinson, the BBC’s political editor, is joining Radio 4’s flagship news show the Today programme.

The broadcaster will replace James Naughtie, who has been a presenter on the programme since 1994.

Naughtie will step down from the role in the autumn, when Robinson will adopt the position.

BBC director-general Tony Hall said Robinson had been a “tireless and inquisitive, acute and open-minded” political editor.

Robinson has fronted the broadcaster’s political coverage for a decade, but recently took time off from his work as a journalist to recover from a lung cancer diagnosis.

His own replacement is yet to be announced, but it is believed that the BBC will replace him with a female journalist. Newsnight's Laura Kuenssberg and Channel 4 News' Cathy Newman are regarded as among the front-runners.

Former The Independent editor Andrew Marr and John Cole, the former deputy editor of The Guardian, previously held the role.

Robinson said: "I cannot remember a time when my morning did not begin with Today - the programme - setting the nation's agenda.

"It's a real honour to be chosen to succeed him. I will miss my privileged perch inside Parliament and outside Downing Street but after a decade as political editor I'm looking forward to hearing someone else's analysis of what our politicians are up to."