A shortlist of presenters has been drawn up in the search for a replacement for David Dimbleby as the new host of Question Time, with the candidates mostly consisting of women.
This will give the BBC an opportunity to see how the presenters would fare in the usual Question Time format.
If a woman is appointed to the role, it would be a first for Question Time, which launched in 1979.
Dimbleby announced in June that he was stepping down as host after 25 years in the role, with his final episode set to air on 13 December.