John Humphrys, who presented the BBC Radio 4 Today programme for 33 years, has criticised the show for becoming annoying since he left seven years ago. Writing for the Guardian, Humphrys said he now listens as a 'new listener' and finds himself harrumphing at the radio over what he calls a high 'irritation quotient'.
Language and mannerisms
Humphrys singled out presenter Amol Rajan for emphasising definite and indefinite articles, such as saying 'A' bomb has exploded in 'THE' palace of Westminster. He also criticised the 'gratuitous gratitude' between hosts and guests, noting that guests often say 'Thank you SO much for inviting me on!' and hosts respond in kind, creating a gushing contest.
Another irritation is presenters having 'little chats' about the significance of interviews, which Humphrys said listeners can judge for themselves. He also deplored the overuse of 'y'know' and 'I mean' by contributors and even some presenters, calling it 'otiose' and 'profoundly irritating'.
Budget cuts and future
Humphrys expressed concern about BBC budget cuts forcing the programme to rely on last night's TV news reports, making it less 'Today' and more 'Yesterday'. However, he noted the show has survived cuts so far. He concluded with a grammar pedant's note: 'This is not the hill I will die on; it is the hill on which I will die.'
Humphrys now presents The Odd Couple podcast with Matthew Norman.
