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Ben Preston is to be the new editor of Britain's best-selling premium listings magazine Radio Times, Â鶹Éç Magazines announced today, Wednesday 17 June 2009. Preston is currently executive editor at The Independent and has also held a number of senior positions on national newspapers, including The Times, where he spent eight years as deputy editor and a year in the editor's chair.

He will take over from current editor Gill Hudson later this summer.

Nicholas Brett, Group Editorial Director of Â鶹Éç Magazines, said: "Radio Times is Britain's most famous magazine brand, a truly big beast that in many ways resembles a newspaper, so we're thrilled to have one of the UK's most brilliant and visionary newspaper executives leading it forwards. At such an exciting time for the brand in its various guises, including online and interactive formats, it's great to have someone of Ben’s experience in charge."

Ben Preston said: "I'm delighted to be joining at such a fascinating time. Radio Times is at the heart of our national conversation - a trusted and indispensible guide to the best of broadcasting, and a sparkling companion for its legions of readers. I'm flattered, incredibly excited and raring to start."

NOTES TO EDITORS
Ben Preston is currently executive editor of The Independent, a post he has held since June 2008. He began his career in 1987 as a reporter on the Bristol Evening Post and went on to work for the Press Association before moving to The Times, where he rose to become deputy editor and acting editor between March 2000 and January 2001.

Radio Times is the UK's third biggest selling magazine, with a circulation of 1,023,255 (ABC Jul-Dec 2008). It also has a successful website and several brand extensions, including the Radio Times Film Guide and a forthcoming Crossword book. A recently launched iPhone application enables iPhone and iPod touch users to browse Radio Times' extensive listings across 400 channels and stations.

Gill Hudson joined Radio Times as editor in 2002. She leaves Â鶹Éç Magazines in July 2009 to take up her new role as editor-in-chief of Reader's Digest UK.

Â鶹Éç Magazines publishes over 40 Â鶹Éç consumer titles, including Top Gear, Good Food, Gardeners' World and Radio Times and many children's titles including In the Night Garden, CBeebies Weekly, and Doctor Who Adventures. There are now 44 licensed editions of Â鶹Éç Magazines' titles across 55 territories internationally. Â鶹Éç Magazines is part of Â鶹Éç Worldwide Limited.

Sarah Williams-Robbins