Legendary BBC presenter John Humphrys, 82, has revealed that a drunken on-air incident in 1974 prompted him to give up alcohol entirely. While working as a BBC correspondent in Washington, D.C., covering the resignation of President Richard Nixon, Humphrys consumed a significant amount of alcohol during a lunch break.
The Incident
Humphrys’s broadcast assistant warned him about his state of sobriety before a live satellite broadcast. Despite being “painfully obviously” drunk, he managed to complete the broadcast. However, his performance did not go unnoticed by BBC executives in London, who contacted his assistant and stated that such an incident “can’t” happen again.
Decision to Quit
Following the broadcast, Humphrys decided to stop drinking altogether. He believes he “was an alcoholic” and notes a family history of the condition. Now, he drinks very little, often opting for non-alcoholic beer. The revelation came during an interview about his long career in broadcasting.
Humphrys, known for his hard-hitting interviews on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, has been a prominent figure in British journalism for decades. His decision to quit alcohol after this early career incident highlights the pressures and challenges faced by journalists covering major historical events.
