U2's Bono and the Duchess of York are among celebrities being lined up to edit BBC Radio 4's flagship Today programme.

Sir Richard Branson, Anthony Minghella, and Baroness Onora O'Neill will also have opportunities to edit the programme during the week beginning December 27.

"I have to confess, I'm not a natural editor," said Bono. "I want to start the countdown to next year, when Britain can change the world for the poorest people on the planet."

In 2005, the UK assumes the presidency of the EU and the G8.

Sarah, Duchess of York indicated that she plans to use her slot to "highlight serious issues like the terribly debilitating motor neurone disease."

Last year, Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Professor Stephen Hawking edited programmes during a similar week of guest editors.

"Last year's experiment drew such interest from well known listeners we thought we would try it again, with a great range of new guest editors," said Today's regular editor Kevin Marsh.