General Election 2017: David Dimbleby WILL host BBC results coverage
DAVID DIMBLEBY will host this year’s general election programme for the BBC despite previously insisting 2015 would be the last time he would helm the show.
General Election 2017: David Dimbleby WILL host BBC results coverage
MPs vote in FAVOUR of early general election
It had been expected that news presenter Huw Edwards would take the reins but Dimbleby has since changed his mind about fronting the coverage.
This year will mark the tenth occasion that the 78-year-old has hosted the proceedings after first presenting the broadcast in 1979, when Margaret Thatcher became prime minister.
It is believed that the election programme will start on the night of June 8 and continue until early morning.
Huw Edwards is then expected to take over presenting duties as the BBC review the final results as well as leading the evening bulletin later that day.
The presenter will host the BBC's coverage of the election on June 8
Dimbleby previously said 2015 would be the last time he would present proceedings
Speaking of the decision for Dimbleby to host the coverage, director of news at the BBC James Harding said: “This snap election surprised the country and election night is bound to be one of the most closely followed in recent times.
“BBC’s results night will once again offer people the most reliable breaking news, impartial analysis, with a host of trusted experts and above all out unrivalled presenting team.”
Dimbleby will be joined on the night by Mishal Husain, Emily Matilis and Jeremy Vine as well as number of experts including Laura Kuenssberg.
It comes after it was announced that Britons would head to the polls on June 8 after prime minister Theresa May called for an early general election.
Theresa May announced that Britons would head to the polls once more on June 8
522 MPs supported the prime ministers call for a snap election
She stunned the country on Tuesday when she made a surprising U-turn on her previous claims that she would not press for an election prior to May 2020.
On Wednesday, in a House of Commons vote 522 MPs supported the prime minister’s call for a snap election.
Only 13 MPs opposed Mrs May with the SNP’s 54 MPs abstaining from the vote, including party leader Nicola Sturgeon.