Veteran broadcaster John Humphrys has fired a broadside at the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, blasting its current style as "irritating" in a scathing critique that will leave listeners and presenters alike on high alert. Seven years after stepping down from his anchorman role, Humphrys has returned to the show, this time not to host but to rip apart what he believes is ailing it - and he's not holding back.
Humphrys makes it clear he's not taking aim at the main presenters, whom he still holds in high esteem, but rather the 'irritation quotient' of certain communication styles that are driving him potty. The veteran journalist can't help but be drawn to a particular presenter's tic - an over-emphasis on definite and indefinite articles that becomes impossible to ignore once noticed.
But it's not just this quirk that has Humphrys seeing red. He's equally frustrated by the rise of 'gratuitous gratitude' between hosts and guests, where interviewees thank their hosts for inviting them - a response he believes should be met with a more practical acknowledgement of the programme's reliance on experts. Instead, it often devolves into a 'gushing contest' rather than a serious exchange.
Humphrys is also miffed by presenters engaging in on-air discussions about the significance of interviews they've just conducted. He argues that discerning Today listeners are perfectly capable of forming their own opinions and don't need presenters to interpret or discuss the merits of a segment - it's a job, not a chat show.
And if all this wasn't enough, Humphrys has also taken aim at filler words such as 'y'know' and 'I mean', which he finds "irksome" and "profoundly irritating". While he questions whether these issues are worth fighting for, he's also raised concerns about potential budget cuts affecting the programme's ability to deliver timely news - a prospect that fills him with dread.
Humphrys' critique will no doubt spark debate among listeners and presenters alike. Love it or hate it, his comments have certainly lit the blue touchpaper - and we can't wait to see how the Today team responds.