Deputy editor Jean McNicol and senior editor Alice Spawls have been appointed to succeed Wilmers as editors of the LRB, a leading literary magazine, which in 2019 celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Last year the paper gained more new subscribers than in any other year in its history, say the publishers. Wilmers was one of the LRB’s founders in 1979, became co-editor in 1988 and has been sole editor since 1992.

She said: “The succession has been long in the planning and I’m very proud to be handing over the editorship to two such talented women. I’ll be continuing to do my bit as consulting editor.”

Jean McNicol joined the LRB in 1987 as an editorial assistant; Alice Spawls joined as an editorial intern in 2011.

Alice Spawls and Jean McNicol said: “The LRB is the best paper in the world, thanks to Mary-Kay, and we intend to keep it that way. We’ve never wanted to work anywhere else, and indeed neither of us ever has.”