broadcaster Andrew Marr will return full-time to his presenting duties in the autumn following his recovery from a major stroke, the BBC has confirmed.
The 53-year-old Scot, who spent two months in hospital and has undergone months of physiotherapy to help him walk, takes up the helm again on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show from September 1 and will also return to Radio 4's Start The Week.
In a recent interview Marr said he believed over-work and stresses in his personal life helped trigger the stroke that almost killed him.
He admitted he had been "grossly overdoing things" in the run-up to being taken to hospital hours after exercising on a rowing machine.
In his absence, BBC One's Sunday morning programme, The Andrew Marr Show, has been presented by a series of guest names, among them Jeremy Vine. Vine said yesterday: "We're back on the first Sunday in September and I'm delighted to say Andrew will be back in the hot seat presenting the show himself."
Marr said: "I'm hugely looking forward to coming back and want to give it my all, but recovering from a stroke does take time. We've taken the decision to start with the Sunday show in the autumn and I'm delighted to be returning to present Start The Week on Radio 4 later on in the year."
A Radio 4 spokesman said: "Andrew is a fantastic presenter and we look forward to having him back on Radio 4. Meanwhile, Start The Week will continue to be presented by Stephanie Flanders and a few other regulars."
Marr was born in Glasgow and began his career on Scottish newspapers in the 1980s. He helped launch the Independent in 1986 and also served as its editor.
He joined the BBC as political editor, in May 2000.
He said his voice and memory had been unaffected by the illness, but the left side of his body was weakened.
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