Sophie Raworth quits BBC election debate

Sophie Raworth has resigned from presenting the BBC television debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

The presenter asked not to present the Prime Minister’s Debate on June 26 due to a broken ankle.

Her place will now be taken by Mishal Husain, who hosted last week’s BBC debate between the UK’s seven largest parties.

The event will be the last televised debate between the Prime Minister and the Labor leader before the general election on July 4.

Raworth said: “The injury I suffered during the London Marathon has now been diagnosed as a broken ankle.

“I was only told this last week during the D-Day celebrations. Now I walk on crutches, in a boot, and don’t lift any weights for a while.”

She added that she was “delighted” that Husain was now the host.

“Mishal Husain is a fantastic presenter and will be great to moderate a really important debate for both leaders and the BBC,” Raworth said.

“I’m delighted that he’s doing this.”

After the debate, Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie, the BBC’s election night hosts, will present reactions and analysis live from the debate venue.

Raworth will continue to present the BBC News bulletins and will continue to present day two of the BBC’s election night coverage.

“Sophie has been amazing in terms of pace and the way she has worked in recent weeks, despite the injury,” Husain said.

“I can’t imagine ever stepping into her running shoes, but she can count on me to do so when the two prime ministerial candidates face each other in their final televised meeting.”

Jonathan Munro, deputy chief executive of BBC News, called the debates “a key moment of the campaign”, giving voters the chance to ask questions of the future prime minister.

He added: “We wish Sophie a speedy recovery; Looks like it’s not just football managers who have to worry about foot injuries!”

The debate, which takes place in Nottingham, will be broadcast on June 26 from 8.15pm BST to 9.30pm BST on BBC iPlayer.