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?

Sarah Montague has done Today. Apparently she didn't work well with Nick Robinson either.

I remember her on Today.
Might the common denominator be ...

WATO is a much better gig imo. And PM

I remember when Sarah Montagu and Martha Kearney did a job swap, from Today to WATO and vice versa.

I would never want to do the Today prog hours! But obvs it has more kudos, journalistically.

The plays and comedy are two of my favourite things about R4. I enjoy the current affairs and factual programmes but it would be a very sad place if that was all R4 did, I consider drama and comedy to be essential aspects of the R4 experience, as they have been for many decades.
There are numerous sources of news, far fewer resources for audio drama and comedy, which, as a blind person who gets far more out of a radio drama than a tv one, makes R4's commitment to the Afternoon Play very appreciated.
My only slight complaint is that there are fewer radio sitcoms than there used to be. I realise that stand-up specials and panel shows are probably cheaper to make, but there have been some incredible 21st century R4 sitcoms like Cabin Pressure, Bleak Expectations, Reluctant Persuaders and Start/Stop and I am disappointed that they hardly seem to be commissioned now.

Agreed.

I wonder if he's been told to rush the last questions to build momentum?
Because it often looks as if he's trying to give an advantage to the team that's losing.

I hate the way he's condescending if they get an answer incorrect.

I can't get Times radio even though I have DAB radio.

Why?

I prefer PM.

I think ED is incisive but sometimes a bit 'soft' on some interviewees.
He sometimes lets them off the hook.

I wonder why? 😂
I find him totally obnoxious.

I find ED can be a bit slow and ‘um’ ‘yeah’

I don’t mind PM being a bit ‘magazine’ but I don’t want that style for Today!

He's super smart- Harvard etc- but sometimes he's a bit overly friendly when he should go for the jugular IMO!

I don’t think anyone we are talking about in this thread is stupid! And their pay packets are eye watering!!

He’s bad on women.

One of my DC is going to be on UC soon so I'll ask them if this is deliberate or not

Nick Robinson stays

Sarah Montagu goes
Martha Kearney goes
Mushal Hussein goes
Emma Barneet goes

Maybe the 3 a.m. starts have something to do with it

OP must have hugely liked John Humphries who I found insufferable. I couldn't listen to Today for yrs because of him.

During those many years I mostly listened to R5L for morning news.

i loved John Humphrys on Today.

I listen to it on a Times Radio app on my phone. Andrew Neil and Jo Coburn present on it too.

Same.

Justin Webb and Anna Foster are both excellent. Calm, under-stated, proper reporting experience.

Emma Barnett was the wrong choice completely. Really hope she's replaced by a proper, serious reporter with gravitas. Sarah Smith (North America editor) would be great.

Jo Coburn would have been my top choice on Today (massively under rated politics presenter) but she got poached by Times Radio. Perhaps she could be poached back again.

Equally, maybe Sarah Smith and Jo Coburn (I like them both) don't/didn't want to do the punishing Today hours. Getting up at 3am, etc.

Amol Rajan has made much of his insomnia on social media and his getting by on 3 hours on the nights prior to Today shifts. Not moaning exactly, just saying.
I used to work at the BBC on news shifts and they were indeed punishing - lates, earlies, days. I actually think my one now decades on is in part because of that regime. Not that other professions don’t also suffer that awful merry go round. But if you can jump off, why not?

Emma has completely changed the tone of the programme.
She's approachable and to be fair I have heard her tear into interviewees.
She doesn't pull her punches.

BUT her style doesn't have gravitas if that's what you mean.

I liked John and always took him with a pinch of salt.