Channel 5 has confirmed that Jeremy Vine will front a new daily current affairs show replacing The Wright Stuff.
From September 2018, Jeremy will host the live daily current affairs programme which tackles the biggest news, issues and stories from around the UK, transmitting for 120 minutes every morning. Presenter Matthew Wright recently announced his departure from the show after 18 successful years in The Wright Stuff studio.
Ben Frow, Director of Programmes for Channel 5 said: “Jeremy Vine is a brilliant broadcaster whose supreme ability to make challenging stories accessible to a wider audience, not to mention his intellect, energy and wit, makes him the perfect choice to present our daily current affairs show. Jeremy joins the likes of Michael Palin, Michael Portillo, Bettany Hughes, Sian Williams and BAFTA-winning Jane McDonald on the channel. This high calibre of talent across our news, documentary, current affairs and factual output demonstrates the evolution of the Channel 5 content slate. I’d like to thank Matthew Wright, who has helped make the show such a success for nearly two decades.”
Jeremy Vine said: “Matthew Wright has built a brilliant show that’s a big part of the British TV landscape. I’m delighted to be carrying on all the conversations he has started, with all the guests he’s made me feel I know over the years. Radio 2 has a beautiful editorial overlap with the serious but accessible agenda of this show. I am proud to be Channel 5’s choice to front it.”
Channel 5 Commissioning Editor, Factual Daniel Pearl said: “From Eggheads to Election Specials, Jeremy has proved to be one of the most talented and versatile presenters in the UK and I am delighted to team up with him again at Channel 5. I’d like to add my appreciation to Matthew Wright for his huge contribution to our current affairs output.”
Ian Rumsey, Director of TV Production, ITN Productions said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jeremy to the helm of this much-loved show. As a giant of popular live broadcasting Jeremy brings with him his own distinctive style and charm. He’s a respected journalist who’s at ease with both the important issues which get people talking – and the less-serious subjects which make people smile. We’re very proud to make this programme and Jeremy is the perfect person to take it forward.”
Vine is the host of the weekday radio show The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2, the most listened-to radio current affairs and music programme in the UK. Jeremy’s extensive TV programme credits include Points of View, Eggheads and Panorama (all BBC One) and he presents the critically acclaimed graphic sections for all BBC election specials, including the recent EU Referendum.
The Wright Stuff broadcasts over 500 hours of current affairs programming every year. The show will undergo a name change when Jeremy Vine joins in September, to be announced in due course. Over the summer, the show will continue to see guest presenters on the daily programme.