Mastermind stalwart John Humphrys will step down from hosting duties in March this year after announcing his departure from the BBC show in his Daily Mail column. The presenter began his hosting stint in 2003 but the 77-year-old has decided now is the right time for someone else to take on the role.
John admitted he didn’t know who his successor would be but hinted at the possibility of a female host joining the show.
Writing in his column he said: “When the present series comes to an end in March there will be someone else in the chair.
“I wish my successor well — but I’m not sure I envy them, whoever ‘they’ may be. What are the odds on the first female?”
The presenter went on to reveal he first turned down the hosting job after mistakenly believing the BBC wanted him to appear on the show as a guest.
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It took me roughly ten minutes to discover that working in showbiz is very different from working in news. For starters, you’re treated like a star.”
The former BBC Radio 4 presenter detailed the difficulties the show had when he first signed up as host.
Mastermind has been axed in 1997 and was brought back with John at the helm.
However, the six year gap meant producers struggled to persuade members of the public to join the show’s studio audience.
