Woman’s Hour: Anita Rani announced as second new host of BBC Radio 4 programme

Countryfile star joins Emma Barnett on the show’s revamped presenting line-up

Anita Rani at the British Soap Awards in 2019 (Getty Images)

Anita Rani has been announced as a new host of BBC Woman’s Hour, following the departures of Dame Jenni Murray and Jane Garvey last year.

Rani will present on the Friday and Saturday editions of the long-running BBC Radio 4 programme, joining Emma Barnett, who joined the show earlier this month.

Her first show will be broadcast this Friday, 15 January.

“I’ve long been a fan of Woman’s Hour and admired the presenters who have hosted the show previously, so I cannot wait to become part of it myself as second presenter, alongside the brilliant Emma Barnett,” said Rani.

“I am really looking forward to getting to know the listeners and discussing issues that matter to them the most. Woman’s Hour has always given a voice to people who may not be heard elsewhere and I want to continue that important tradition. What an honour and what a way to kick off the weekend.”

Rani is best known as the co-host of Countryfile, a role she has occupied since 2015. She has also appeared in a series of Strictly Come Dancing, and has presented several other series for the BBC.

Woman’s Hour was at the centre of controversy last week when a guest, actor and speaker Kelechi Okafor, withdrew from the programme, claiming that Barnett had made derogatory comments about her without realising the microphone was on.

Barnett released a statement about the incident, claiming that she was confronting Okafor about a historical instance of “allegedly antisemitic remarks”.

Okafor subsequently discussed the controversy in an episode of her Say Your Mind podcast, elaborating on what was allegedly said by the Woman’s Hour host.