Peston 'joins Radio 4 controller running'

BBC business editor Robert Peston has reportedly emerged as a candidate in the race to become the next controller of Radio 4.

According to The Guardian, Peston was interviewed by the BBC last week for the chance to succeed Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer when he leaves the BBC in mid-September.

Peston, who has acted as the BBC's business editor since 2006, has become one of the corporation's biggest stars for his business reporting, particularly on the collapse of Northern Rock.

Prior to joining the BBC, he was the political and financial editor of The Financial Times.

However, his candidature for the Radio 4 job will be surprising to some as Peston was widely expected to succeed the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson, who in turn was tipped to transfer to Radio 4's Today programme.

The Radio 4 controller recruitment process is thought to be at an early stage, with an extensive list of candidates being invited to make written submissions of their ideas before going into a two-stage interview process.

Earlier in the week, it emerged that Mark Lawson, host of Radio 4's arts programme Front Row, had also been interviewed for the top job at the station.