Kirsty Young: Desert Island Discs host permanently steps down from role
The presenter has quit the iconic Radio 4 interview show after 12 years, saying she has ‘decided it’s time to pursue new challenges’
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Your support makes all the difference.Kirsty Young has stepped down as the host of Radio 4’s iconic interview show Desert Island Discs after 12 years at the helm.
The presenter took a leave of absence from Desert Island Discs in August 2018 after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but on Friday she announced her departure from the programme would be permanent.
Fibromyalgia, a condition from which Lady Gaga also suffers, is a long-term illness that causes pain all over the body and can bring on severe fatigue.
Young described her tenure as “12 incredibly happy and fulfilling years”.
She added: “Having been forced to take some months away from my favourite job because of health problems, I’m happy to say I’m now well on the way to feeling much better.
“But that enforced absence from the show has altered my perspective on what I should do next and so I’ve decided it’s time to pursue new challenges.”
The BBC said 6 Music presenter Lauren Laverne, who was drafted in as cover for Young during her recent absence, will continue to host Desert Island Discs “for the foreseeable future”.
Since joining Desert Island Discs in 2006, Young has presented 496 episodes of the programme.
Young said she wished Laverne “all the very best”.
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