Top BBC journalist conscious after stroke

2013-01-11 11:02

British television presenter Andrew Marr at the 2008 British Academy Television Awards in London. (Carl de Souza, AFP)

London - Leading BBC journalist Andrew Marr was conscious late on Thursday after suffering a stroke two days earlier, the corporation said.

"Andrew Marr is responding to medication and continuing to progress. He is conscious and eating," a BBC spokesperson said.

"He and his family are touched by all the warm wishes and support flooding in."

The 53-year-old presenter, one of the best known faces of the BBC, was taken to hospital on Tuesday and the corporation confirmed a day later that he had suffered a stroke.

Leading politicians and journalists took to Twitter to wish him a swift recovery.

Moved up the ranks

"Excellent news that Andy Marr is conscious and continuing to make progress after his stroke," BBC political editor Nick Robinson tweeted late on Thursday.

Marr moved through the journalistic ranks as a newspaper reporter, editing the left-leaning Independent for two years from 1996 before working as the BBC's political editor between 2000 and 2005.

He currently hosts the radio show Start The Week and grills politicians every Sunday on his television programme, The Andrew Marr Show.

The BBC has said it will continue to broadcast both shows with guest presenters in Marr's absence.

Marr hit the newspaper headlines in 2011 when it was revealed he had taken out a court injunction to prevent the publication of a story detailing an extra-marital affair.

He is the author of five books and has also presented numerous history programmes.

- SAPA