Kirsty Young steps down as host of Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs permanently after fibromyalgia battle
KIRSTY Young is to step down permanently as the host of Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.
The long-standing host said today: "It's time to pursue new challenges."
In August last year she announced she was taking a break from the Radio 4 staple, amid her battle with fibromyalgia.
DJ Lauren Laverne took on the mantle in what was thought to be a temporary absence from Kirsty.
But today the 50-year-old confirmed she would not return to the long-running BBC show.
She had said in a statement last August: "Casting away some of the world's most fascinating people is a wonderful job - however, I'm having to take some time away from Desert Island Discs as I'm suffering from a form of fibromyalgia."
Today she said: "After 12 incredibly happy and fulfilling years on Desert Island Discs I've decided to step down permanently.
"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."
Kirsty became the presenter of Desert Island Discs in October 2006 and also presented Crimewatch from 2007-2015.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
People often think that fibromyalgia just causes pain but the condition can result in a number of debilitating life-changing symptoms.
Other signs can include:
- fatigue
- brain fog
- headache
- clumsiness
- dizziness
- IBS
- sensitivity to weather changes
She has presented 496 episodes of the programme as well as fronting its 70th and 75th anniversary celebrations.
Her Castaways have included Zadie Smith, David Beckham, Bruce Springsteen, Victoria Wood, Dame Kelly Holmes, Dame Judi Dench, George Michael, Alice Walker, Tom Hanks, Second World War pilot Eric Winkle Brown and Sir David Attenborough.
BBC director of radio and education James Purnell said: "Kirsty has been a wonderful host of Desert Island Discs for more than a decade and her intuitive interviewing style as well as her warmth and humour has helped bring out incredible life stories and anecdotes from her castaways. We know how loved she is by listeners and we all wish her well for the future.
"Lauren Laverne has been doing a brilliant job at the helm in Kirsty's absence and I'm delighted she continues to host one of Radio 4's most popular shows."
Laverne will continue to host Desert Island Discs for the foreseeable future.
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Kirsty married businessman Nick Jones, who founded Soho House, in 1999 - a year after they met. They have two daughters, called Freya and Iona.
She also has two stepchildren from Nick's previous marriage, Natasha and Oliver.
People with fibromyalgia syndrome experience increased sensitivity to pain, fatigue, muscle stiffness and headaches.
There is currently no cure for the condition but there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms.
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