Organisation: Sue Lawley / Desert Island Discs

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Analysis and commentary by Echo Research.

As with every other change to the Radio 4 schedule, Sue Lawley's announcement that she would leave Desert Island Discs in August was greeted with alarm and incredulity. " After 19 years, Lawley deserts her island" (Independent, 13/4), " Lawley to cast away from Desert Island Discs" (Guardian, 13/4) read the valedictory headlines, prompting Megastar's comment that the papers were acting " like the poor gal has just popped her clogs" (13/4).

Lawley will be remembered as the velvet gloved interrogator of the cream of politics, entertainment and sport - "the coolness could turn to icy prodding on occasion, the girliness gush when the subject was a screen idol" (Daily Telegraph, 14/4) - as well as for her castaway revelations (including the Gordon Brown 'I'm not gay' headlines), and upward effect on ratings. With the position described by Lawley herself as "one of the best jobs in broadcasting" (Scotsman, 13/4), the questions on everyone's lips were: why is she leaving, and who will be her successor? The Sunday Times (16/4) noted Lawley's " telling silence" to the first (prompting the headline " My next request? Get me off the island") and the bookies are taking bets on the second, with Andrew Marr currently odds-on favourite. R4 listeners may never recover.