Robert Peston is leaving his post as BBC business editor.

But fans of his distinctively halting delivery style will not have to change their TV channels or retune their radios — his new job is as the corporation’s economics editor.

The 53-year-old journalist said: “It’s thrilling to be taking up a new challenge at the BBC, after eight wonderful years as its business editor.

“I am excited by the prospect of trying to get underneath what’s going on in the British economy and global economy, especially in the run-up to the 2015 general election.”

Mr Peston starts his new job in March. He will be replaced by Sunday Telegraph business editor Kamal Ahmed, who said it was “a great privilege” to follow in his footsteps.

Mr Peston, a self-professed “secular Jew”, has spent over 30 years working in the field of financial journalism, having initially pursuing a career in stockbrocking.