Veteran broadcaster John Humphrys has voiced criticism of his successors on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, describing their interviews as an "irritating" "gushing contest."
Humphrys, who hosted the show from 1987 to 2019, suggested that current presenters and guests engage in a pattern of flattery rather than challenging interviews. He noted "gratuitous gratitude" exchanged between hosts and guests, stating that "increasingly rare is the guest who doesn't feel the need to curry favour with his interviewer."
The 82-year-old described himself as having "mutated" into a listener of the programme after his departure and now finds himself "shouting" at the radio due to perceived changes. He singled out broadcaster Amol Rajan for his distinctive use of definite and indefinite articles, stating, "In his world, 'A' bomb has exploded in 'THE' palace of Westminster."
Humphrys also alluded to potential budget cuts affecting the programme's content, noting that news reports from the previous day are sometimes re-used. He indicated that if this trend continues, he might switch to listening to Radio 3.
According to data from the beginning of the year, the BBC Radio 4 Today programme reaches approximately 5.61 million listeners weekly. Humphrys's departure from the show in 2019 was a significant change for the programme, following Martha Kearney's exit the previous year.
During his extensive career, Humphrys established a reputation as a probing and outspoken interviewer. He previously worked as a BBC foreign correspondent, presented the Nine O'Clock News, Panorama, and You Decide, and also hosted BBC Two's Mastermind. He currently hosts a regular Sunday afternoon show on Classic FM.