Firth, not Price, for Radio 4

Colin Firth has been named as one of the guest editors of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, thus taking Katie Price out of consideration for the role.

Firth will fill one of five slots that are given out to public figures during each Christmas period, who will help determine what content goes to air over the Holidays, and add their own personal interests to the programming output.

Other names chosen for this year’s guest editing slots are artist and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Wood, co-founder of Private Eye Richard Ingrams, memoir writer Diana Athill and businesswoman Dame Clara Furse.

Glamour model Price was tipped as an early favourite for the role, and Radio 4 listeners had a generally negative reaction to her consideration, with many calling the potential choice a 'dumbing down' of the upmarket show.

However, the head of the programme, Ceri Thomas, hasn't ruled out bringing in Price for some other purpose, saying the former reality show contestant could tell listeners something 'interesting' about the way the country works.

Colin Firth and the other guest editors will be on air between Monday, December 27 and Friday, December 31 on BBC Radio 4.