Kirsty Wark has been appointed as the new presenter of Radio 4’s The Reunion, starting from August.
The Reunion brings back together people who have been part of a major news story, social or cultural movement. Sue MacGregor, who hosted the programme since its first edition in 2003, stepped down in October last year.

Kirsty Wark says: "It is a delight and privilege to be asked to host The Reunion, a series I‘ve always enjoyed enormously. It is by turns illuminating, affecting, sometimes sad and other times funny. Just a perfect Radio 4 programme."

Mohit Bakaya, Controller of BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra, says: "Kirsty is a great presenter with a broad and impressive political and cultural hinterland. Her extensive broadcasting experience make her ideal to host The Reunion.

"The Reunion has an excellent record of bringing together amazing groups of people to create wonderful, often very moving, radio moments. The recent film release Misbehaviour, which was inspired by a Reunion episode, was a reminder of this. I’m delighted Kirsty will be hosting this much loved Radio 4 programme."

The Reunion has brought together a vast range of groups of people, including survivors of Auschwitz; an emotional gathering of Robben Island prisoners in Cape Town, reuniting the IRA bomber of The Grand Hotel with some of his victims, and bringing together the 1953 Coronation Maids of Honour.

Kirsty Wark is one of Britain’s most experienced broadcast journalists, and has presented BBC Two’s Newsnight for 28 years. She has won several awards including Bafta Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting, Journalist Of The Year and Best Television Presenter. Kirsty also presents the annual Royal Academy summer exhibition programme on BBC Two and she hosted The Review Show for over a decade. Kirsty has conducted long-form interviews with a wide range of people from Margaret Thatcher to Madonna, Harold Pinter to Pete Doherty, Damian Hirst to George Clooney and the likes of Toni Morrison, Donna Tartt and Philip Roth.

Kirsty’s first appearance on BBC Radio 4 was as a guest on The News Quiz in July 1990 when she was a panellist alongside Alan Coren and Richard Ingrams, over the years she’s appeared on a variety of programmes including Woman’s Hour, With Great Pleasure, and as presenter of Start The Week.

The Reunion returns with Kirsty Wark presenting in August.

Kirsty will continue to present Newsnight on BBC Two.

The Reunion is a Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.