Who is Nuala McGovern? The journalist replacing Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour

Nuala McGovern is set to replace Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, the BBC has confirmed.

Irish broadcaster McGovern will be a familiar voice to listeners as she previously covered for Barnett during her maternity leave. She will now present the popular programme from Monday to Wednesday each week starting from May 13.

Anita Rani will take over the reins on Thursday and continue to host her current Friday and Saturday editions. Barnett hosted her last Woman's Hour show last week after more than three years at the helm of the programme, which focuses on female topics.

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She will join the radio station's Today programme in May after Martha Kearney announced earlier this year that she will be leaving Radio 4's flagship current affairs show. During her stint on Woman's Hour last year, McGovern hosted the live reveal of the Woman's Hour Power List which included interviewing England captain Leah Williamson, who topped the list.

She also spoke to a host of high-profile women including education activist Malala Yousafzai, actresses Laura Dern and Rosamund Pike, singer Arlo Parks and Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Dame Lynne Owens.

In her 20-year career, McGovern has worked across the BBC and is one of the leading presenters on the BBC World Service. She has reported for the broadcaster from more than 30 countries and at many important events including at both the funeral of the late Queen and the coronation of the King.

McGovern, who grew up in Drumcondra, Dublin, previously studied English and Italian at University College Dublin. She then taught English in Italy before moving to America to pursue a