BBC veterans 'lead' Lawley race

Former Today presenter Sue MacGregor is among the favourites

David Dimbleby and Sue MacGregor are considered most likely by bookmakers to take over as presenter of BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

Ladbrokes and William Hill also list Andrew Marr and Michael Parkinson as frontrunners to replace Sue Lawley, who is leaving after more than 18 years.

Ladbrokes has MacGregor as its 4-1 favourite, with Parkinson at 5-1 for a second stint as programme host.

William Hill prefers Dimbleby, given as the 3-1 favourite, with Marr at 5-1.

WHO MIGHT REPLACE LAWLEY? David Dimbleby Sue MacGregor Andrew Marr Michael Parkinson Eddie Mair Sarah Kennedy Michael Palin Jonathan Dimbleby Anna Ford Chris Evans

MacGregor was previously presenter of BBC Radio 4's programmes Today and Woman's Hour.

Parkinson - known for his ITV1 chat show and as the voice of Sunday lunchtimes on Radio 2 - was host of Desert Island Discs from 1985 to 1987.

He succeeded the late Roy Plomley, who devised the format where celebrity guests chose eight records and a luxury item that they would take to their desert island.

Meanwhile, bookmaker Paddy Power has identified Eddie Mair, of Radio 4's PM, and Sarah Kennedy, Radio 2's early morning host, as its joint 6-1 favourites.

Other names in the frame at this stage include Michael Palin, whose globetrotting exploits would stand him in good stead to relate to life on a desert island. He is 8-1 at William Hill.

Jonathan Dimbleby and Anna Ford, both of whom are due to leave their current television slots, have also been identified as possible hosts.

Chris Evans is rated as an outsider to take over from Sue Lawley

New Radio 2 drivetime presenter Chris Evans is listed as a 66-1 outsider at Ladbrokes and 50-1 at William Hill.

There have been more than 2,600 guests since the programme began in 1942.

Lawley has said she is leaving because Desert Island Discs has "come to dominate" her professional life and she wishes to work on other broadcasting projects.