Misha Glenny made his debut as host of BBC Radio 4's In Our Time on Thursday, taking over from Melvyn Bragg after his 27-year tenure. The first episode tackled John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, a choice that resonated given the BBC's current legal battles with the Trump administration.
Glenny, a journalist and broadcaster known for reporting on authoritarian regimes, navigated the discussion with three academics: Helen McCabe, Mark Philp, and Piers Norris Turner. The inclusion of an American scholar hinted at a desire to reach the programme's international audience.
The episode was pre-recorded, leading to a slightly awkward moment when Nick Robinson asked Glenny how it had gone on the Today programme before it aired. Glenny's mumbled response suggested he could not yet comment.
Listeners may have sensed tension at Broadcasting House as the conversation touched on liberties taken by politicians, though no names or places were mentioned. The show avoided direct parallels to current events, perhaps mindful of the $10bn lawsuit from President Trump over a Panorama editing dispute.
Glenny's style was described as scrupulously polite, contrasting with Bragg's testy professor persona. He showed humility about the magnitude of the challenge, sometimes sounding like a junior don taking over a celebrated emeritus's class.
Next week's episode will explore the Mariana Trench, a subject that originally inspired Glenny's fascination with the format. The succession comes at a turbulent time for the BBC, with new leadership needed after resignations and ongoing charter negotiations.
