Where is Laura Kuenssberg today? Why was she not on BBC politics show - will she be back next Sunday?

Laura Kuenssberg was absent from her BBC politics programme today - prompting many viewers to wonder about her whereabouts.

The journalist and broadcaster usually presents ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg’ each Sunday at 9am, but she wasn’t on the show this morning (8 October) when audiences tuned into watch, having also missed the show on September 24.

Instead, prominent BBC Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire was on screen - and she took over hosting duties and conducted interviews with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Tory transport minister Mark Harper and actor Steve Coogan, who is playing Jimmy Savile in new BBC series The Reckoning. Sam Brown, a survivor of Savile's abuse, is also on the show.

Where was Laura Kuenssberg?

Kuenssberg was not on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg - which was filmed at the Museum of Liverpool - today. Kuenssberg did not tweet to let people know, as she had a fortnight ago, with Victoria Derbyshire tweeting this morning.

No reason has been offered for Kuenssberg's absence - nor did her replacement Derbyshire.

While opening the programme, Derbyshire only briefly mentioned Kuenssberg’s absence, saying: "Welcome to Liverpool where Labour are gathering for their week in the spotlight. I am standing in for Laura today."

Will Laura Kuenssberg be back next week?

Kuenssberg is expected to return to the BBC politics programme next week, so her fans need not worry about missing her for too long. However, it seems some on social media would prefer Derbyshire to stay on - with many suggesting they preferred her presenting style.

A fortnight ago one wrote on Derbyshire’s post on X: “This is great news - make it permanent.” Meanwhile, another said “you were great today, thank you!”, while a third chimed in by saying: “You should be a permanent sub! You’re the best out there by far.”

What is Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg?

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg started back in September 2022 - replacing former BBC programme BBC The Andrew Marr Show, which ran from 2005 - 2021.

It has assumed a similar format to previous BBC Sunday morning shows, with presenter Kuenssberg interviewing politicians, experts, and public figures who have been involved in - or who are keen to comment on - the major news events of the past week.

In the trailer for the programme, which was first announced in March 2022, Kuenssberg said she planned to be “fair” - but wouldn’t be “going easy” on her guests.