Daily & Sunday Politics

Looks like Andrew Neil might have departed from the Sunday Politics. After saying the show would be back in September,

This was @afneil's signoff from the Sunday Politics today: "From me, it's thank you and good bye". I hope that doesn't mean what it might. pic.twitter.com/kIY8P4Ctfy

— Iain Dale ⚒️ (@IainDale) July 16, 2017

And notably Tom Newton Dunn, who was in studio with Andrew:

Sign off to last #bbcsp of the summer from @afneil: "From me, it's thank you and good bye". End of an era.

— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) July 16, 2017

Nick Robinson presented an edition a few weeks back, and I suppose if Andrew does move on Nick would be a contender. Andrew is one of the BBC's best interviewers, though, and I certainly hope he isn't leaving the DP or This Week.

Possibly tied in with the departure of Robbie Gibb to Number Ten? They seem to have been a good team together.

Eddie Mair also a possibility. The BBC would do well to find him a permanent TV slot.

Emily Maitlis, Nick Robinson or Jo Coburn are the names I'd throw into the hat.

To be honest I only watch mid week and Sunday because he does good interviews and does not let them get away with it. Will be a shame if he is gone for good.

I'd support Maitlis, Coburn, Norman Smith or Mair in the role - but I'm becoming less and less convinced by Nick Robinson in a presenter's role. A wildcard could be someone like Lucy Manning, or perhaps Clive Myrie or Mishal Husain.

The other name to perhaps throw in would be diplomatic correspondent James Landale, who has decided to remain at the BBC instead of applying for the position Robbie Gibb got. Maybe he'll be rewarded, especially after not getting the political editor position.

I hope the new Editor doesn't tinker about with the winning format of DP & SP, or bring in a presenter with a completely different style.

Andrew Neil is a bit of a 'marmite' character, but I've always liked his style. I hope he continues to present This Week, otherwise sales of Blue Nun will plummet and my Thursday late evenings just won't be the same.

The fact his sign off was so understated worries me a bit for next week's Daily Politics and This Week - would hate for Andrew to leave the BBC entirely. I thought it was telling though that it was Mishal Husain in the interview position overnight for the election coverage, which Neil had done in 2015 and during the Brexit referendum coverage.

There are very, very few presenters at the BBC with his rigorous interview style and skill, charm and wit.

I do like Andrew Neil but never thought it was great he essentially presented every political show on BBC1/2, though ideally he'd drop one or two of them rather than all three. He is probably easiest to replace on the Daily Politics and then the Sunday Politics - but not so sure This Week would work with someone else.

Though he only presents three days a week of the daily politics, plus This Week and the Sunday Politics. He doesn't present Newsnight, Question Time or Marr.

I still feel Emily Maitlis would be very good in a Marr-type role, and she and Mair both did well when they've covered This Week before.

I wouldn't want any of the people mentioned to take over.

If it wasn't for the fact that Sophy Ridge will soon be unavailable, I'd use the opportunity to get her across to the Beeb. This series of Ridge on Sunday has proven she can handle her own against Marr and Peston.

I'd rather keep Andrew Neil, without a doubt. But it wouldn't surprise me if someone far blander and inferior an interviewer replaced him, and I think someone like Maitlis would be the best option to replace him if necessary.