03 September 2023 , 13:13
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The BBC's flagship Sunday morning politics show has reportedly lost close to a million viewers since Laura Kuenssberg, 47, took over from Andrew Marr, 64, last year.
This week marks one year since Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg premiered with the former political editor of the BBC succeeding Marr in the role on September 4, with the first episode attracting 1.5million viewers and hitting the headlines thanks to guest Joe Lycett's antics on the show.
Lycett pretending to be right wing during his time on the sofa and delivering a sarcastic response to then Prime Minister Liz Truss's appearance on the programme sparked a social media uproar at the time and saw Kuenssberg's debut broadcast get off to a flying start.
However, it appears Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg has lost some momentum over recent months. It's been reported this weekend that live ratings for the flagship BBC show have dipped - with host Kuenssberg attracting 700,000 viewers less than her predecessor Marr.
Andrew Marr left the BBC at the start of 2022 after 21 years with the broadcaster (Getty Images)
Laura Kuenssberg took over from the Scottish journalist in September 2022According to The Sunday Times, BARB, which compiles audience measurement and television ratings in the UK, Marr used to regularly attract an average of 1.9 million per show during his 16 years of presenting The Andrew Marr Show. In comparison, Kuenssberg has seen her ratings dip to 1.2million in 2023.
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However, a BBC spokesperson disputes the figures reported in The Sunday Times and says the totals don't include viewers watching on catch-up services. In a statement issued to the Mirror, they said: "These aren’t the right figures, as they don’t take into account the many people who watch on screens, phones or tablets and on iPlayer catch up, bringing the actual average to 1.5m, which broadly compares to Andrew Marr before the pandemic – it’s meaningless to use the extraordinary period of the pandemic as a comparison. We’re very pleased SWLK has become the weekend’s agenda-setting programme."
Marr left the BBC at the start of 2022 after 21 years with the public service broadcaster. Announcing his pending departure on social media in November 2021, the Scottish journalist said his resignation was down to a desire to get his "own voice back" away from the BBC.
The broadcaster, 64, told his Twitter (aka X) followers how he predicts British politics is about to embark on "an even more turbulent decade" and from next year, he will be moving to Global to "write and present political and cultural shows". He added: "I have been doing the Andrew Marr show every Sunday morning for 16 years now and that is probably more than enough time for anybody!"
At the time of Marr's exit, Kuenssberg was the BBC's political editor and quickly became the favourite to replace the outgoing presenter on the Sunday morning show. In March 2022, following her exit from her political editor role, Kuenssberg was announced as Marr's successor and Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg premiered in September of the same year.