THE BBC PRESENTER Andrew Marr has been hospitalised after he suffered as stroke yesterday, the Corporation confirmed in a brief statement this evening.

The former political editor of the UK broadcaster, who presents The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One and Start the Week on BBC Radio 4, took ill yesterday and was taken to hospital.

There it was confirmed that he had suffered a stroke but doctors says he is responding to treatment. The BBC said that Marr’s family have asked for their privacy to be respected as he recovers.

The broadcaster also confirmed that his regular programmes on TV and radio would continue with guest presenters in his absence.

Marr is a former editor of The Independent newspaper in London. He has also presented a number of programmes on BBC including Andrew Marr’s History of the World.

He is married to the Guardian columnist Jackie Ashley and the couple have a son and two daughters.