Andrew Neil in the dark over BBC future

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 20d

Political broadcaster Andrew Neil says that he is yet to hear from the BBC if they want him to return to work.

Veteran political broadcaster Andrew Neil has speculated that he may be "surplus to requirements" at the BBC.

The 71-year-old has been off the air since the coronavirus lockdown began in March and says that he has yet to hear about when he may return.

Prior to the break Neil had been fronting Politics Live once a week in addition to the weekly interview programme The Andrew Neil Show, although his work for the broadcaster had already been on a downwards trajectory over the past year.

Neil used to present Politics Live and its predecessor The Daily Politics as many as four days a week, while his This Week show was canned after 16 years last summer.

"I would like to be doing more shows, of course I would," Neil told the Radio Times. "I don't know what's happening.

"There's no clarity at the moment, so I'm just waiting for the BBC to make up its mind."

Neil went on to hint that he may be tempted by a switch to another broadcaster, adding: "Let's say I'm looking at the portfolio and shaking up the mix. I mean, we're all thinking about the balance of our lives, aren't we?"

Responding to Neil's comments, a BBC spokesman said: "Andrew's a key part of our political coverage and we, like our viewers, are very much looking forward to seeing him back on BBC screens.

"The COVID-19 outbreak meant we streamlined our operations and suspended some programmes to keep a continuous news service on air but we are gradually introducing more content and will set out further details soon."

Neil has been with the BBC for around three decades and also has historic connections with Sky, having helped launch the broadcaster in the 1980s.