Guido has confirmed Matthew Moore‘s report this morning that the Today programme editor Sarah Sands has submitted her resignation, giving six months notice. After 3 years in the gruelling role she has decided she prefers programme sovereignty to the new BBC news model outlined yesterday, even if she accepts the financial logic of it. She will oversee the transition over the next six months and hand over the editorship to someone else to operate under the new BBC news model. Sands told a friend “I only came to the BBC to edit this programme, I think it is the most precious thing at the BBC.” Beeb-rexit!
Radio 4 sources are loudly and widely sharing concerns that Sarah Sands is planning big changes at the Today programme. They have been circulating a rumour – which has been repeated to Guido unprompted by blabbermouth non-BBC industry sources – that Sands wants Robert Peston to present the flagship programme. This does sound unlikely to Guido, he is on a hefty wedge at ITV and the prospect of his idiosyncratic style on the Radio 4 airwaves is not likely to be popular at Broadcasting House. It is not impossible that this is disinformation being spread by Beeb refuseniks trying to undermine Sands. World at One presenter Martha Kearney has also been linked to Today. What would that mean for Jim Naughtie…
