Football Focus anchor Dan Walker is to replace Bill Turnbull on BBC Breakfast.
Walker is to join the early morning show from the end of month following Turnbull’s retirement from the Breakfast sofa after 15 years.
He will sit alongside co-presenter Louise Minchin Mondays to Wednesdays with Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty continuing to present the programme on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings.
Walker currently hosts a show on BBC Radio 5 Live, Afternoon Edition, but he will be familiar to most viewers as the face of Football Focus for the last seven years. He has also fronted Match of the Day and Final Score.
He began his career on Hallam FM in Sheffield then joined Granada TV and went on to join the corporation on regional show BBC North West Tonight before moving to BBC Sport.
Walker said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the BBC Breakfast team. I have watched the show avidly over the years and am even looking forward to setting my alarm clock and doing what I can to make it even more successful.
“It is an honour to be given this opportunity and to follow in the footsteps of someone like Bill Turnbull. The man has significant shoes to fill, so I hope I can do as good a job as he did waking up the nation.”
BBC Breakfast editor Adam Bullimore added: “Dan is an experienced journalist and presenter who will be a fantastic addition to the brilliant BBC Breakfast presenting team. He’s well used to handling breaking news and the challenges live TV can pose! We’re looking forward to him joining us on our sofa.”
The BBC said Walker will continue with his sports presenting roles.
