Having recently been appointed Salisbury Cathedral’s first Canon Historian, Mr Holland will be in charge of the programme’s content on Tuesday, December 30.
His edition of the Today programme will include a segment marking 800 years of worship at Salisbury Cathedral.
Tom Holland in conversation with the Dean of Salisbury for Radio 4. (Image: Salisbury Cathedral)
He and the Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, will discuss the cathedral’s role in the city and the completion of its major restoration programme.
Mr Holland is an award-winning author and broadcaster, with works including Millennium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom, and Dominion which investigates the influence of Christianity on the modern world.
He is also the co-presenter of the popular podcast The Rest is History, which gets more than 19 million downloads each month, and has written several TV documentaries for the BBC and Channel 4, on subjects ranging from ISIS to dinosaurs.
He is a trustee of the British Library and the British Museum. The role of guest editor for the Today programme is a highly esteemed honour, with only a select few individuals being chosen each Christmas to help shape the show’s content.
This year’s line-up includes actress Cate Blanchett, writer and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, former Prime Minister Theresa May, and inventor James Dyson.
Owenna Griffiths, editor of the Today programme, said: “Every Christmas on Today, a new set of guest editors take up residence and bring with them a wonderful range of new stories, fresh ideas and, hopefully, a sprinkling of joy. This year is no exception.
“In a rapidly changing world, this year’s guest editors will help bring illumination and understanding and I’m enormously grateful to all of them for giving up the time to take part.”
Former guest editors on the programme have included Prince Harry, Lord Botham, Greta Thunberg, Angelina Jolie, Lewis Hamilton and Professor Stephen Hawking.