Victoria Derbyshire will be the new full time presenter on the station's key mid morning phone in programme on Radio Five Live from next summer, the station announced today.
In the meantime Julian Worricker will continue to host the 9.00am till Noon slot.
Victoria, who is expecting her first child next year, will return to the station in the summer after a period of maternity leave to take up the mid morning role in the midst of a huge year of sport for Radio Five Live.
Her programme will be a central part of the station's output for both Euro 2004 and the Olympics.
A co-host on the Five Live breakfast programme since 1998, she presented the show firstly with Julian Worricker and, since the beginning of the year, with Nicky Campbell.
Victoria is a Sony Award winner – twice being recognised with a Gold Award.
In 1999 she won under the breakfast news and talk category and again received gold in 2002 for the programme's coverage of the September 11th attack on New York.
Victoria Derbyshire said of her new role: "I'm thrilled; the people who listen to this show make it the best phone-in programme on British radio... some of the most priceless moments I've ever heard on the airwaves have come from the callers to the programme.
"It's been a privilege to work on Breakfast for five years and I've loved every minute of it.
"Next year will be special with a huge year of sport for Five Live so it's a brilliant time to be taking over the phone-in."
Bob Shennan, Controller of Radio Five Live, said: "Victoria has been a mainstay of the station for over five years and I am delighted that she has agreed to host the phone in programme from next summer.
"2004 is a massive year for Five Live with two key sporting events, Euro 2004 and the Olympics, so it's great that Victoria will be in her new role to be part of that."
- from a BBC Press Release
