John Humphrys, who spent 33 years presenting BBC Radio 4's Today programme, has described the show as 'really annoying' since he left, citing gushing interviewees, odd speech patterns, and budget cuts as key irritants.
From Presenter to Disgruntled Listener
Humphrys, now 81, stopped presenting the programme seven years ago and attempted to switch to Radio 3, but gave up within a day. He admits it is impossible to erase 61 years as a news hack, more than half of which were spent on Today. He now finds himself shouting at the radio as a 'pain in the arse' listener.
Irritation Quotient
While Humphrys praises the three main presenters, he criticises what he calls the 'irritation quotient' (IQ) of the programme. He specifically calls out Amol Rajan's habit of overemphasising definite and indefinite articles, such as saying 'A bomb has exploded in THE palace of Westminster'.
Gratuitous Gratitude and Chit-Chat
Humphrys laments the trend of guests thanking presenters profusely, saying 'Thank you SO much for inviting me on!' has become standard. He argues the correct response should be 'On the contrary. Without someone to interview there'd be no programme.' He also criticises presenters for having chats about the significance of interviews, noting that listeners can form their own conclusions.
Verbal Tics
The former presenter highlights the overuse of 'y'know' and 'I mean' by contributors and even presenters, calling it 'otiose' and 'profoundly irritating'. He warns that discerning listeners may feel their teeth grinding.
Budget Cuts
Humphrys expresses concern about budget cuts forcing the programme to rely on recycled TV news reports, making it less 'Today' and more 'Yesterday'. He jokes that if cuts persist, he will finally switch to Radio 3.
Despite his criticisms, Humphrys acknowledges the programme's success as the most successful news programme in radio broadcasting history. He concludes with a grammar pedant's note: the correct phrasing is 'the hill on which I will die', not 'the hill I will die on'.
