Former Today presenter John Humphrys has launched a scathing critique of his old BBC Radio 4 colleagues, branding parts of the programme “profoundly irritating” seven years after stepping down. The veteran broadcaster, 82, fronted the flagship current affairs programme for more than three decades before leaving in 2019.
Writing an op-ed for The Guardian, Humphrys admitted he often finds himself shouting at the radio while listening to his successors. He wrote: “Having been the one on the radio informing (and possibly sometimes annoying) the listeners for 33 years, I’m now the man shouting at his radio about how irritating the programme has become.”
Criticism of Presenting Styles
Humphrys singled out presenters Justin Webb, Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, saying their broadcasting styles frequently leave him “harrumphing” at the airwaves. He reserved particular criticism for Rajan's delivery, writing: “A prime example would be Amol Rajan’s insistence on emphasising, without fail, the definite and indefinite articles in any given sentence. In his world, ‘A’ bomb has exploded in ‘THE’ palace of Westminster.”
The broadcaster also criticised what he described as presenters “gushing” over guests before interviews, as well as the overuse of filler phrases such as “y'know” and “I mean”, admitting the habits make him “grind his teeth”.
Acknowledging Talent Despite Irritations
Despite his criticisms, Humphrys insisted the trio are “as good as they come”, although he said he remains unconvinced by the “deeply uncomfortable” post-interview discussions in which presenters analyse the significance of the conversations they have just conducted. Humphrys acknowledged that BBC executives may not welcome his critique, joking: “I suppose if I were Today's editor, the phrase 'pain in the arse' might come to mind.”
He also warned he could stop listening altogether if further budget cuts affect the programme, despite recognising that Today has been better protected than many other BBC shows. Previous rounds of cuts have already seen it lose its dedicated correspondents.
Departure and Legacy
Humphrys announced his departure from Today in 2019 after 32 years, saying at the time he wanted to spend more time with his family and “get more involved in trees”. “I love doing the programme. I have always enjoyed it,” he said at the time. “That's the problem. I should have gone years ago. Obviously I should have gone years ago.”
Humphrys' comments come as Rajan recently announced he would be stepping down from Today to focus on his business interests in the creator economy. Despite Humphrys' criticism, Rajan's departure has reportedly been met with genuine disappointment behind the scenes, with senior BBC figures said to view his energetic presenting style as key to keeping the flagship programme relevant to modern audiences. The Today programme continues to attract more than five million listeners each week.
