Rebecca Keating has worked at the BBC for 20 years and calls her new role an "immense privilege".

Rebecca Keating, who has worked on some of the BBC’s most high‑profile news shows, has been named as the new editor of the Radio 4 Today programme.

Rebecca Keating has worked at the BBC for nearly 20 years, and is currently the assistant editor on The World at One, PM, Broadcasting House and The World This Weekend on Radio 4.

Rebecca Keating has also previously held senior roles on news and current‑affairs programmes including the News at Six and News at Ten on BBC One and Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

In a statement, Rebecca Keating said: "When I first joined Today as an output editor nearly 10 years ago, I could not have imagined being given the immense privilege of leading the programme."

Rebecca Keating added: "In a fractured landscape, where what is true is increasingly harder to ascertain, Today’s role in holding power to account and hosting the debates shaping our society is more important than ever."

Today remains the BBC’s flagship radio news programme, with the most recent RAJAR figures stating 5.61 million listeners tuned in during the last three months of 2025.

Rebecca Keating, who joined the BBC from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, has covered some of the biggest news stories for BBC outlets – including the death of Queen Elizabeth II, general elections and conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran.

Rebecca Keating said: "I look forward to working with Amol, Anna, Emma, Justin and Nick, along with the programme’s clever and incredibly diligent production team, to ensure Today thrives in the next phase of its evolution."

John McAndrew, the BBC’s director of live and daily news, said he hopes Rebecca Keating’s appointment can bring "new audiences across all platforms, while preserving its [Today] unique heritage and special place in listeners’ lives".

Rebecca Keating will replace Owenna Griffiths, who was in the role for more than five years.

Rebecca Keating’s extensive experience across a breadth of BBC news and current‑affairs output equips the editor of the Today programme with a deep understanding of the editorial standards, audience expectations and the operational pressures that characterise a daily news schedule. Throughout a career that spans two decades, Rebecca Keating has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to navigate breaking news cycles, manage complex editorial teams and sustain the quality of output that the BBC brand demands.

The appointment of Rebecca Keating also signals the BBC’s continued commitment to strengthening the editorial leadership of its most influential programmes. By elevating a journalist with a proven track record of delivering high‑impact journalism, the corporation underscores its belief that editorial insight, experience and the capacity to adapt to a rapidly shifting media ecosystem are essential to preserving the relevance of the Today programme.

Rebecca Keating’s perspective on the current media environment reflects a broader industry concern: the erosion of trust in information sources and the rise of misinformation. In stating that the Today programme’s role in “holding power to account” is more vital than ever, Rebecca Keating aligns the programme’s mission with the public service remit of the BBC, which is to provide impartial, accurate and comprehensive news to the nation.

Looking ahead, Rebecca Keating anticipates a period of evolution for the Today programme, one that will involve integrating digital platforms, expanding audience interaction and maintaining editorial excellence. By naming specific members of the production team – Amol, Anna, Emma, Justin and Nick – Rebecca Keating highlights a collaborative approach that values the contributions of each individual in delivering a coherent and compelling broadcast.

John McAndrew’s remarks about attracting new audiences while safeguarding the programme’s heritage acknowledge the balancing act that lies ahead for Rebecca Keating. The BBC’s strategic goals include reaching younger listeners and diversifying its audience base, yet any change must be measured against the long‑standing trust that listeners have placed in the Today programme over decades.

Rebecca Keating’s predecessor, Owenna Griffiths, led the Today programme for more than five years, during which time the show continued to command a leading share of the radio news market. The transition from Owenna Griffiths to Rebecca Keating is therefore positioned as a continuation rather than a disruption, ensuring that the core values and editorial stance of the Today programme remain intact.

In summary, Rebecca Keating’s appointment as editor of the Radio 4 Today programme represents a milestone in a distinguished BBC career. The combination of two decades of service, experience across flagship news programmes, and a clear vision for the future equips Rebecca Keating to guide the Today programme through the challenges of a fractured media landscape while retaining its status as the BBC’s premier radio news offering.