BBC Politics Live was first announced on 12 July 2018 in a statement from the BBC's press office. as the BBC's new lunchtime political programme. The series replaced
Daily Politics which ran in the same time-slot for the previous 15 years and was presented by
Jo Coburn and
Andrew Neil. In the announcement, the BBC stated that the new series "will offer viewers a fast-moving, conversational show, featuring a blend of political interviews, discussion and video content designed to be shared digitally, ensuring
BBC Politics Live connects with the lives of people around the country." In March 2020,
BBC Politics Live broadcasts was suspended by the BBC, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although PMQ's restarted,
BBC Politics Live did not as Coburn anchored PMQ's for
BBC Newsroom Live, directly from the Commons lobby in Westminster for BBC News which was on air during the pandemic.
BBC Politics Live resumed in May 2020 on Wednesdays only with Coburn hosting with guests at home or in the studio two meters away from each other because of UK lockdown rules. After the summer recess, the BBC changed their programming plan by scaling down
BBC Politics Live to 4 days a week (Monday to Thursday with the same times as before), with a review programme,
BBC Politics UK airing in the timeslot on Fridays. Since the start of 2023, most of the Wednesday edition of
BBC Politics Live is simulcasted on
BBC News. In March 2025, it was announced that Jo Coburn would step down as presenter of
BBC Politics Live from May 2025. On 4 April 2025, the
BBC announced appointment of
Vicki Young as the new presenter of
Politics Live. On 22 September 2025,
BBC Politics Live premiered a new logo, opening titles and a revamped studio, located within the BBC's Millbank centre in Westminster. == Special broadcasts ==