Radio 4 controller Mohit Bakaya said it would be “hard to imagine” the show – which first aired in 1998 – without Bragg, but added that with Glenny stepping in, the programme “will continue to thrive”.
Listeners may know the new presenter through his The Invention Of… series, as well as The Rise and Rise of the Microchip and Continental Divides.
Glenny also hosts podcasts including Putin: Prisoner of Power and The Rise of the Iron Men.
He has also written several books including McMafia: Seriously Organised Crime, which was later adapted into BBC drama starring James Norton.
Glenny, 67, will join Bragg, 86, in conversation when the outgoing presenter guest-edits the Today Programme on Christmas Eve.
Bragg said he was “delighted” that Glenny, who previously reported on the wars in the Balkans, will be taking on the role.
“His breadth of knowledge and gift for clear, engaging conversation make him ideally suited to guide these discussions into the future”, noted Bragg.
Glenny will present his first edition of In Our Time on Thursday 15 January 2026.
The BBC said the programme would “continue its tradition of exploring big ideas and fascinating subjects with leading experts”.
