BBC A presenter at Radio 4 Emma Barnett plans to depart from Woman’s Hour in April in order to host the station’s Today programme.
The 39-year-old broadcaster and journalist has been the main presenter of Woman’s Hour since 2021.
She expressed that the program is very important to her and took the chance ‘to thank the team and our large group of listeners for the amount we have shared – the joy, wisdom, sorrow and sometimes sheer rage’.
‘We are living in uncertain times where even asking a question can appear risky – unfairly so,’ Barnett also stated.
‘My goal on the Today programme is to keep asking the questions that listeners want answers to – as well as bringing many smiles along the way – while armed with a very strong cup of tea.’
Using Instagram, Emma reflected on her time working on the landmark show.
‘I will greatly miss being within the rare and unique space Woman’s Hour provides, where most days anything can happen and routinely does,’ she wrote.
Emma also took the time to recall some of her career highlights so far.
‘I will carry so many of those moments with me for the rest of my life – chief amongst them conducting Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s first interview after her long-awaited release from prison in Iran; making a rare and special conversation happen with Kate Bush and reflecting the overwhelming response to the rape, abduction and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.’
During her tenure, she has interviewed many big names including Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Jodie Whittaker, Jodie Comer, Lindsay Duncan, and Dame Joan Collins.
Emma added it was ‘pretty special’ to give birth to her daughter while working at the longest running women’s programme in the world.
She concluded her message by giving ‘all power’ to the next person who sits in the Woman’s Hour seat.
Emma will be taking over from Martha Kearney on the Today programme, and will be joining Amol Rajan, Mishal Husain, Justin Webb and Nick Robinson, who are the show’s main presenters. Martha previously announced she would leave after the next general election. ‘I won’t be missing that 3am alarm call,’ she joked.
In addition to her exciting move to a different Radio 4 show, Emma will be presenting documentaries and major interviews.
Anita Rani will continue to host Woman’s Hour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Woman’s Hour airs 10am on weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays.
