Mariella Frostrup announces she is stepping down from Times Radio 

Mariella Frostrup has announced that she is stepping down from her role as Times Radio’s lunchtime presenter.

Mariella was announced as a headline signing upon Times Radio’s launch in June 2020, filling the lunchtime presenting role.  She made the three-hour slot a salon room, attracting some of the most significant thought-leaders of the past thirty years, including Lord Cameron, Gordon Brown, Sir Bob Geldof, Cate Blanchett and Sir Salman Rushdie.  For Mariella, the value of the format lay in being able to explore all facets of modern life, from politics to arts to how we live.  

As Times Radio pivots to more news and politics-based daytime content, Mariella feels that it is time to seek new pastures where she can continue to thoughtfully explore the full range of topics that her listeners have come to expect. Whilst Mariella has authoritatively covered the major political and current affairs issues of the past four years, including Covid and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, she recognises that, particularly in an election year, it is a crowded field and her interest remains in exploring the intersection of current affairs, politics, culture and human experience.  She has relished her time with Times Radio and the individuals that helped her make the show the success it has become.  

Mariella said: “I’ve loved the challenge these last four years of creating a brand-new programme and playing my small part in building a new station. I’m incredibly proud of the show we’ve made but its daily commitment has left very little time for anything else in my life. It’s now time to step back to focus on other work, my continuing campaigning around women in the workplace and some exciting new challenges. I’m particularly grateful for the support of my listeners who clearly shared my appetite for exploring the places where news and culture collide and made the programme the undoubted success it has been.”

Tim Levell, Programme Director for Times Radio, said: “Mariella has been an integral part of the Times Radio presenting line-up since launch. She created a wonderful afternoon show that delivered authoritative and intelligent commentary alongside engaging and enlightening discussions. Mariella had a terrific rapport with the stream of famous names who appeared on her show, and her connection with both those guests, and listeners at home, shone through every day. We are saddened by her departure, but very grateful for her contributions over four years, and for her central role in establishing Times Radio as a respected and credible radio station. We wish Mariella all the very best for her future projects.”

 Times Radio will announce its new afternoon plans in due course.