Miles Jupp, star of BBC comedy series Rev, has been announced as the new host of The News Quiz after Sandi Toksvig stepped down from the long-running radio show.

Danish-born Sandi decided to leave the Radio 4 show after 220 episodes, saying that she wanted the freedom to express her political views.

Sandi Toksvig
(Ian West/PA)

Her replacement is best known for his role as hapless Nigel in Rev, as well as an incompetent press officer in The Thick Of It and Archie the Inventor in children’s show Balamory.

The News Quiz was first broadcast in 1977 and is now in its 87th series.

Created by John Lloyd, the radio show was first chaired by Barry Norman, followed by Simon Hoggart and Barry Took before Sandi took over in 2006.

Miles, who will begin his new job on September 17, said: “It is a massive honour to follow in the footsteps of Barrys Norman and Took, of Simon Hoggart and the delectable Sandi Toksvig and be asked to take on this role.

“Sandi has been remarkable in her time in charge of The News Quiz and her legacy will live on forever amongst listeners.”

He joked: “Following her departure my first job will be to lead the regulars and listeners through as many of the stages of grief as are ultimately deemed necessary (by a completely independent arbiter).

“Then it will simply be a matter of dumbing it down and sexing it up. Or vice versa, depending entirely on the circumstances.”

Sandi has presented 28 series over nine years at the helm and broadcast her final instalment last week.

She said: “I couldn’t be more delighted that Miles Jupp is taking over as host of The News Quiz. He is perfect – affable, funny and charming. I look forward to going from host to fan.”