If you're a Radio 4 native but can't stand the current Today presenters ...

[quitethenight]

... have you found an alternative breakfast news programme that you prefer?

I grew up with the Today programme on in the kitchen every school day morning and have woken up to it almost every working day of my adult life. But I don't like the current presenters and now get frustrated listening to it. Where do I go from here?

Broadcasting House brings joy to a Sunday morning. One of my favourite programmes of the week.

@nauticant , me too. Usually Alan Smith with the news bit then some stuff that's quite light, then the reviews, then get up. I usually get up after the news though. If not then I get up before DID.

I like Today in Parliament and The Weak in Westminster.

I have also been finding the Today programme quite a difficult listen in the past year. Woman’s hour isn’t a notch on its former glory (we all miss you Jane Garvey), and I’ll soldier on with Nula MCgovern. But yes, Today has been really difficult to enjoy whilst making my cup of tea and cracking the whip to get the mill turning.

please don’t suggest LBC, I can’t take such drivel at 6am. And I haven’t heard of Times Radio. I’ve taken to listening in the car to podcasts including that one with David Olusoga and the high speed speaking American lady.

is it Amol or Emma or any of the current others who are lacking somewhat? We miss you Mishal.

PM is currently the only saving grace that R4 has for me, along with the world at 10.

I can’t stand a few other programs, but there’s always the off button or Classic FM or UCB 2 for that.

I like Today in Parliament and The Weak in Westminster.

Those are my other two favourite programmes of the week!

The Weak in Westminster

🤣Perfect!!

It was a deliberate 'typo'.
I have others like the Toady programme, Wimmin Sour, Cross Incontinents, ..,

I like The Weak in Westminster best.

I miss Mishal. She was such a brilliant presenter on Today programme. I don't mind Amol but I'm really struggling to get used to Emma's style. It's really grating. It was OK on WH but feels all wrong on Today.

Hear hear to this!

She was great on WH but she is, as you say, grating on Today.
Mishal Hussein had gravitas, AR & EB don't.

I can listen to Today in Parliament and Yesterday in Parliament and not be bored.

I usually hear the World at One, PM and The World Tonight.

Another vote for Times Radio, turn to LBC or Radio 5 in the afternoon as not keen on Fi and Jane.

Was your Cross Incontinents from ISIHAC from many years ago@FatRosie? It got a genuine LOL from me when I heard it.

Not knowingly but I did used to listen avidly back in the Humph days.

I'm generally known as someone who'd not only hide my light under a bushel but I'd hide the bushel too, but under various usernames I've had recognition for my SOH.
(I'm currently looking for a name for the next baby but got stuck on Grundon, which is connected to rubbish. Say no more.)

I think you're really onto something here. If you grew up in 70s / 80s, you're deeply attuned to these male, posh voices as authoritative.
I'm only 50 but I dislike the chummy, chatty, fun style r4 programs have adopted. I want formality, seriousness and in depth discussion. It's not radio 1!! Saying this makes me feel like such an old fart.
(I've just about accepted Question Time without Dimbleby, but I still wish it was him.)

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and much prefer Alex Forsyth to Jonathan Dimbleby on Any Questions.

Male voices tend to sound more authoritative because they're deeper, but many voices on R4 these days seem to sound 'young'. I don't like giggly voices and they tend to be female.

I spent a morning working with Paddy O’Connell and he was a total delight. Such a funny guy.

I love all the presenters, especially Justin, but I dislike Emma. I think a combative interview style is fine if it’s justified but I find her to be combative with every guest and it gets a bit exhausting. I also miss lovely Mishal.

That said, I’m certainly not giving Murdoch my ears in the morning, nor that pillock Nick Ferrari on LBC. I’ll stick 5Live on on a Friday sometimes for the sport ahead of the weekend but other than that, I’m loyal to Today.

I can't stand Emma Barnett on Today - she seems to veer between fluffy chat show host on a virtual sofa and a more forced-sounding 'Must be a Tough Journo Holding Them To Account And Not Letting Them Finish.' It's like she's trying out personas, but the first really doesn't fit the programme and neither feels authentic. At first I thought it was just because she was new in the role, that she'd settle in and it would all 'gel' better, but no. And she can't read from a script well - at best, you can tell she's reading from a script, and at worst it's like a child who can only read a few words at a time and can't process a full sentence in one go. Drives me mad. I was really disappointed, as I thought she was very good on Woman's Hour and had high expectations of her on Today. Now I just want her to leave and do something else.

Anna Foster is excellent - knowledgeable, probes well and is persistent and tough when needed whilst maintaining calmness and control. I was gutted when Mishal left, as I loved how she could skewer them so politely, but Anna has similar qualities. I have confidence in her, and her voice is pleasant to listen to.

I absolutely love Justin - my favourite Today presenter - and will always appreciate his support for women and our sex-based rights. It took me a VERY long time to warm to Nick, but I don't mind him now. I found Amol's style jarring at first - more like commercial/local radio - but his evident substance overcame that pretty quickly, and I like that he has a good rapport with all his co-presenters. Sad to hear he's leaving, but agree with others that he's great on U Challenge.

I'm not at all keen on the drift to longer magazine-style chat segments, the 'How did that AFFECT you? How did you FEEL?' bleating (usually prompted by Emma), or the increased drive for audience engagement/participation. It's not what I want from Today. If I want to hear the general public moaning on, I'll go and stand at the bus stop. I have no current plans to leave for another show, but interested to hear where others are migrating to in case the need ever arises. (Hopefully not!)

Agree with (almost) everything you say, @HarmonicAnalysis. Find it impossible to like EB on anything. And Ms Foster maybe needs more personality, as I still think of her as ‘the temp’ and struggle to remember her name.

I must be the only person who doesn't miss Michal. She sounded as if she was quarrelling with interviewees when she was trying to talk them down. Her voice itself was fine.
I find Emma's voice a bit grating, and it is radio and to me the sounds of the voices matter.
Is the BBC currently employing the fashions of the moment - somewhat affected speech delivered in a near compulsory staccato a la Daleks? I don't mean only on 'Today'.
I'm going because it's nearly time to catch 'Newswatch' on Beeb 1 !

I think they are better than any they've had previously. John Humprhys was the worst, that was like throwing the radio out of the window bad. I don't like Today generally though as I don't want news, politics and doom and gloom first thing in the morning. If anything I listen to Radio 3 breakfast. But usually nothing, just peace and quiet first thing.

Just listening now and they are trying pickle juice 🤣

but it has reminded me that I like Simon Jack and Chris Mason

i also like Sarah Montague on WAT but I find Evan Davis irritating on PM

Another vote for Times radio, I love Stig and Kate in the morning.
I also like Ed Vaisey and Ayesha Hazareka.
I can’t stand the bloody Curry’s adverts though.

I really hate Saturday Live made even worse with Adrian Chiles in charge

Oh I thought it was Anna Foster but it’s Laila something - I’ve not heard her before I don’t think