Woodthorpe took on the mantle in 2006, stepping in to the position vacated by well-known media figure Jim Hancock.

The role was a wide-ranging one for the former Anglia Television journalist, taking in broadcast appearances on North West Tonight and the Politics Show, while advising the BBC’s portfolio of regional radio stations on key political stories.

According to sources at the corporation Woodthorpe resigned over the weekend and has now appeared for the last time on both TV and radio.

He is now said to be set to leave the media sector, and the region, altogether to take up a new role within the health industry in the East Midlands.

Woodthorpe: pastures new

They also relayed that there was no one lined up to take the position as yet, but that they would be advertising the role imminently.

A suggestion that the position itself could be made redundant, or merged into an existing role elsewhere, was flatly denied.

The BBC currently has political editors for each of its broadcasting regions across the UK.

Although How-Do failed to contact Woodthorpe himself at the time of writing, a source close to the story speculated that his move might be related to the style of political coverage that is currently in vogue in the region.

The source opined that this was increasingly “fluffy” or “politics-lite” whereas, according to his online biog, Woodthorpe “believes passionately in the importance of politics.”

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Comments (3)

1  By Tameside Eye , on 19-08-2008 10:23 Who???    Anyway, who will fill the role? Dave Ottewell at the MEN has done a good job as political editor. Report