Ellie Goulding among Radio 4's Today programme guest editors

Ellie Goulding will focus her show on the work being done to make the music industry more sustainable

Pop star, Ellie Goulding is one of seven high-profile public figure people to guest edit BBC Radio 4's Today programme over the Christmas period.

Other guests who will edit the show during the week between Christmas and New Year include former Top Gear host James May and author Hanif Kureishi.

The tradition of guest editors has been running for the past 20 years.

It has seen the likes of Prince Harry, Angelina Jolie and Stephen Hawking edit the show.

The BBC's flagship news and current affairs programme will begin the guest editor takeover on 23 December with Nasa's Head of Science, Dr Nicky Fox, who will look at science education and the influence of outer space on music.

• It's the best job on the planet, says new Nasa chief

Boxing Day will see author and screenwriter Hanif Kureishi as guest editor.

Mr Kureishi sustained life changing injuries after a fall in Rome, and now one year on he will explore the impact his injuries have had on his family and how they have changed the way he now writes.

On 27 December, Grand Tour and former Top Gear presenter James May will look at the future for autonomous cars and whether hobbies can improve your health and wellbeing.

May told the Today Podcast on Wednesday, after news that Top Gear was being paused, it was "time for a new format and a new approach to the subject because the subject has not been this interesting, I suspect, since the car has been invented".

• Ellie Goulding: 'People forget I write music'

Goulding will take over the show on 28 December and use her programme to look at climate and nature stories, as well as examining the work being done to make the music industry more sustainable.

Guest editors left to right: Andrew Malkinson, Ellie Goulding, Emma Walmsley, Hanif Kureishi, James May, Jason Arday and Nicky Fox

Other guest editors include Andrew Malkinson, who has been cleared this year after being wrongfully convicted and jailed for 17 years and Jason Arday, Cambridge University's youngest black professor.

• Inquiry into Malkinson wrongful rape conviction

He will look at the stigma and shame associated with low literacy in adults after he was diagnosed with global development delay and only learnt how to read and write at the age of 18.

The guest editing series will close with Dame Emma Walmsley, CEO of the global biopharma company GSK.

Each programme will include an interview with the guest editor.