Sophie Raworth: who is the new Andrew Marr Show presenter and journalist, what is her age - who is her husband

On 19 December 2021, veteran broadcaster Andrew Marr signed off from his long-running BBC politics show with a line from his “mentor” – Anchorman character Ron Burgundy.

Marr has left the BBC after more than two decades, including 16 years at the helm of his own Sunday morning show.

Bringing his final programme to a close, he said: “That it is, all over, I have been so lucky and so privileged to share so many Sunday mornings with you.”

Referring to the catchphrase of the fictional news anchor played by Will Ferrell in the 2004 hit comedy, he added: “I have been wondering how to close this final show, but I can’t do better than quoting my great mentor: ‘You stay classy, San Diego.’”

Sophie Raworth will serve as the interim presenter of the Sunday morning programme, which will be temporarily retitled Sunday Morning, from 9 January.

But just who is she?

Here is everything you need to know.

Who is Sophie Raworth?

Raworth, 53, has covered for Marr in the past and is one of the main presenters of the BBC News At Six and 10, which she has worked on since 2003.

She joined the BBC regional trainee scheme in 1992 and went on to report for Greater Manchester Radio, and later moved to Brussels as a BBC Regions correspondent.

In 1995, she moved to Leeds for BBC Look North, which is where she first presented the news. She joined BBC Breakfast News in 1997 as a co-presenter.

Raworth has also presented for the broadcaster from the Oscars in Los Angeles, in Washington for Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial, and during a special programme for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002.

She has hosted BBC Breakfast alongside Jeremy Bowen from its launch in 2000 and has also presented election night coverage, Watchdog, Crimewatch and the Chelsea Flower Show.

Raworth married Richard Winter in 2003 and they live in London with their two daughters Ella and Georgia, and son Oliver.

Raworth is also a keen runner, and in 2011 she completed the London Marathon, despite collapsing two miles from the finish line.

By 2017, she had completed all six World Marathon Majors, and in 2021 ran and completed the London Marathon for the 4th time.

In 2018, Raworth completed the Marathon des Sables, a six-day, 156 mile ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert.

How long will she present the show for?

The BBC said in a statement that Raworth will front the popular show for a “short period” while a recruitment process for a permanent presenter takes place.

Once a permanent appointment is made, the programme will relaunch with a new presenter, title and a new look, the BBC said.

Who could be the next permanent presenter?

BBC Global Questions and HardTalk Zeinab Badawi has hosted Marr’s show before so would be a familiar face to his regular viewers.

She is one of the favourites to take over permanently from Marr, while other names include Emily Maitlis, the Newsnight who has won acclaim for her high profile interviews with the Duke of York, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton; she would be a sparring partner to be reckoned with when sitting down with political leaders.

Other names floated include former BBC political editor Nick Robinson, who has filled in for Marr before, and is currently a presenter of both BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today programme.

Clive Myrie could also be a contender, a regular presenter of BBC News At Six and Ten who has previously worked as the BBC’s correspondent in Asia, Africa, Washington, Paris, and Brussels.

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