Ex-Big Breakfast host Johnny Vaughan has ruled himself out of the running for a new BBC political programme aimed at younger viewers.

Vaughan was being considered for the BBC Two slot on Saturday mornings because of his popularity with younger viewers.

Vaughan appeals to younger viewers

The BBC is conducting a review of its entire political output in a bid to attract the next generation of voters.

"We are talking to a lot of production companies and presenters about various ideas," a BBC spokesman said.

"The main political parties realise we've got to re-engage the under 45s with enlivened political debate and get people talking about politics."

Final decision

Vaughan was a number of names being considered but the presenter decided to take himself out of contention.

Bob Geldof's independent production company, Ten Alps, which produces Radio 5 Live's long-running current affairs strand, Sunday Service, is said to be in the running to produce one of the new shows.

A final decision will be made when the review concludes in the autumn.

Vaughan left Channel 4's Big Breakfast show along with co-presenter Denise Van Outen in January of last year.

His minicab sitcom, BBC One's 'Orrible, received negative reviews, but he rediscovered success with a nightly talk show, Johnny Vaughan Tonight, and a World Cup chat show, World Cup Extra, both on BBC Choice and BBC One.

Recently, Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith warned the BBC that it should not "dumb down" its political coverage, something the corporation denies it is doing.