Sandi Toksvig has announced she is to step down as host of the flagship Radio 4 comedy show The News Quiz at the end of the next series.

Toksvig, who has hosted the Friday night show for nine years and chaired over 220 episodes of the satirical programme, will step down at the end of the upcoming series, which begins on Friday 15th May. She will make her last appearance in the host's chair on Friday 26th June 2015.

The BBC confirms: "Sandi, who as well as hosting The News Quiz, has written numerous books and plays, hosted her own TV series, appeared on an array of panel shows and is involved in charity and mentoring work, has made the difficult decision to leave the show to embark on a new and exciting stage of her career."

Sandi Toksvig herself says: "The News Quiz is one of the things I am proudest of in my professional life. From the beginning when I arrived as a rather nervous panellist almost a quarter of a century ago, I have always enjoyed it and was overwhelmed when asked to become host back in 2006.

"Now I have decided it is time to move on and, of course, I feel sad but I think it's the right moment. The show is in great shape and, like a good house guest, you should always depart when people still wish you'd stay a bit longer."

She concludes: "Radio 4 is family to me and I have no intention of disappearing entirely and who knows, maybe I can come back one day to The News Quiz as a guest and muck about a bit?"

The News Quiz, which would later prove the blueprint for TV show Have I Got News For You, was created by producer John Lloyd and launched in 1977.

Barry Norman was the first host, being succeeded jointly by Barry Took and Simon Hoggart. Sandi Toksvig made her first appearance as a panellist in 1992, with Hoggart becoming sole host in 1996, a position he would hold for 10 years before Toksvig became presenter in 2006.

Whilst hugely popular in both its Friday night 6:30pm and Saturday lunchtime repeat slots, The News Quiz is also one of the most downloaded podcasts in the country. The Friday Night Comedy podcast reaches an audience of 2.3 million, and holds the accolade of being the most popular single BBC podcast, having been downloaded 116 million times globally since its launch in September 2007.

Commenting on Toksvig's 9 years at the helm, the BBC says: "During her time as host, the programme has become one of the most popular on BBC Radio 4, attracting millions of listeners each week and regularly topping the list of most-requested radio shows on BBC iPlayer."

Gwyneth Williams, Controller of Radio 4, says: "Sandi is one of Radio 4's most talented and respected presenters. She will be hugely missed from The News Quiz and I want to thank her for her contribution over so many years. She brought her own inimitable wit, humanity and intelligence to The News Quiz - and above all that irresistible laugh. The News Quiz is in excellent health; thank you, Sandi, for chairing it with such style."

There is no news yet on who will take over as host. In the last series Toksvig missed two episodes. Long standing regular panellist Jeremy Hardy stepped in as host on the 20th March when Toksvig couldn't make the recording due to ill health, whilst Susan Calman hosted the last episode in the series on the 3rd of April.

The BBC says: "Radio 4 will now begin considering options in terms of the future host and will make an announcement later this year."

Story Update, 30th April 2015: Sandi Toksvig has revealed that she quit The News Quiz so she could set up a new political party named the Women's Equality Party. Full Story

In the below video, recorded backstage at The British Comedy Awards in December, Toksvig explains to British Comedy Guide why she thinks The News Quiz is better than Have I Got News For You, and discusses the lack of women on comedy panel shows: