John Humphrys criticises his 'irritating' successors on BBC Radio 4's Today programme for carrying out a 'gushing contest' with interviewees

Published: 11:52, 12 July 2026 | Updated: 11:54, 12 July 2026 Veteran broadcaster John Humphrys has criticised his 'irritating' successors on BBC Radio 4's Today programme for conducting 'gushing' contests with interviewees. Mr Humphrys, who presented the radio show from 1987 to 2019, hinted the programme's new hosts and guests are guilty of engaging in a flattery contest with one another. The 82-year-old reflected on 'mutating' into a listener of the Today programme after stepping down from presenting it seven years ago, adding he had become the man 'shouting' at the radio about 'how irritating' the show has become.  Speaking to The Guardian, the former Mastermind host noted the 'gratuitous gratitude' seemingly exchanged between guest and host to one another.  He said: 'Increasingly rare is the guest who doesn't feel the need to curry favour with his interviewer. 'Instead there's a gushing contest between host and guest. Again, some presenters are more guilty than others.' Mr Humphrys went on to criticise how the Today programme's presenters communicate on air, singling out broadcaster Amol Rajan's emphasis on definite and indefinite articles when speaking.  Former BBC media editor Mr Rajan left the Today programme this year to start his own company after joining the team in 2021.  John Humphrys (pictured) has criticised his 'irritating' successors on BBC Radio 4's Today programme for conducting 'gushing' contests with interviewees Mr Humphrys criticised Amol Rajan's emphasis on definite and indefinite articles. Mr Rajan (pictured) presented the Today programme from 2021 to 2026 Mr Humphrys said: 'In his world, 'A' bomb has exploded in 'THE' palace of Westminster. My apologies to you, dear reader, if you've never spotted it, but if you hadn't, I bet you will now.' The broadcaster then implied he may stop listening to the Today programme entirely due to ongoing budget cuts.   He suggested the cuts sometimes mean TV news reports from the night before are often used the following morning on the show, adding if this persists, 'Radio 3, here I come!'  According to data published at the beginning of this year, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme attracts around 5.61 million people every week.  Mr Humphrys departure from the show was one of two significant departures for the programme, after Irish journalist Martha Kearney stepped down last year.  During his decades long career, Mr Humphrys gained a reputation as a challenging and outspoken interviewer, working as a BBC foreign correspondent and later, for the Nine O'Clock News.  He has also presented Panorama and You Decide before taking the helm at BBC Two's Mastermind.   Mr Humphrys currently presents a regular Sunday afternoon show on Classic FM.