Andrew Marr Suffers Stroke

BBC broadcaster and journalist Andrew Marr is in hospital recovering from a stroke.

The BBC says the presenter and broadcaster is "responding to treatment" following a stroke on Wednesday.

"We will continue to broadcast The Andrew Marr Show and Radio 4's Start The Week with guest presenters in his absence," the corporation said.

"His colleagues and the whole BBC wish him a speedy recovery."

Marr is said to be conscious and talking, although the diagnosis is still in the early stages.

53-year-old Marr was born in Glasgow and began working on The Scotsman newspaper in 1981.

He later became the paper’s political correspondent in London.

He was in the team which launched The Independent newspaper in 1986, later becoming its editor.

He joined the BBC as political editor in May 2000.

The BBC has said James Landale will present The Andrew Marr Show this Sunday.

There has been a surge in well-wishes for Mr Marr on Twitter since the news broke.

Former New Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell tweeted: "wish Andrew Marr all the best for recovery", while the author Salman Rushdie said he was "sorry to hear" about the broadcaster’s illness.

(IT)