John Humphries

[JaneHare]

He's not really going to retire from Radio 4's Today show, is he?
I'm sure he's promised to do so many times in the past but trundled on in his patronising, pompous manner. Sucking up to some politicians and being condescending to intelligent women. And waving the flag for Brexit.

Good riddance - can't stand his faux indignation.

What is your AIBU?

For the benefit if the thread police my AIBU is

To not believe John Humphries is going to do the nation a favour and leave Today?

The last two days he's either got the date wrong or stumbled over the day of the week.

I'm not surprised he's retiring.

Hope he's going. Perhaps then we could hear what the interviewee has to say, rather than the interviewer not letting them get a word in.

The last two days he's either got the date wrong or stumbled over the day of the week

In fairness, the OP has actually managed to get his name wrong...

it's Humphrys

I have my fingers well and truly crossed.

He was once incredibly rude to Johanna Konta (‘What are you?’). What are you, who even asks that?!

In fairness, the OP isn't paid £600k plus to get it right.

I used to really like him, but just recently have gone off him completely.
I can't put into words what I mean except I'm not sure he's the nice person I believed him to be. it's nothing in particular just a feeling.

I do hope it's true he's going. He has become more and more needlessly aggressive - I once listened slack jawed as he tore into someone who was on to talk about something entirely non-contentious.

His interview with the Irish politician was horrific . He is so nakedly partisan.

Also yes re the confusion. Began to wonder if it was the start of some form of dementia.

Not a day too soon. He made me stop listening to Today. I might go back to it now ... except I also really hate Nick Robinson.

I can’t listen to the Today programme after 50 years of it being part of the weave and weft of my life

They are part of the acceptance of the Austerity programme that has brought poorer people to the most abject poverty
People are dying and no one is held accountable
JH is needlessly aggressive and totally patronising
I hope he retires ASAP but hold no hope that his replacement won’t be as unpleasant, it seems to be part of the job requirement
Heaven forbid we should have reasoned arguments and critical thinking when we can have partisan parroting and knee jerk reactions

Well I like him.

If you hate him that much then just turn the fucking radio off.

Simple

He has become a caricature of himself. Think he imagines he is Paxman - but Paxman has some charm. Unlike him.

Someone like Eddie Mair would do an excellent job but I think he’s already had it with the partisan BBC.

If you hate him that much then just turn the fucking radio off

I do. Which means I miss a good deal of the Today programme, which I used to enjoy and find useful.

He has overstayed his welcome.

Worst interviewer ever.. won't be missed in our household...🙌

I never listen to Today but I've disliked Humphrys ever since he was a humorless dick to my beloved Adam Buxton when he was on Mastermind

I think he's well past his best, so I hope he does actually go. He makes factual errors and stumbles over appropriate choices of words all the time. He tries to reframe an answer given by a guest and mucks it up entirely.

This has also been happening for a while. I believe it was 2011 when the Alternative Vote referendum was held and his interview with David Cameron was embarrassing. He kept telling Cameron that he (Cameron) was wrong about what the question was and what the options meant. Humphrys was wrong. Cameron was spluttering so much because he couldn't compute that Humphrys had misunderstood so badly. I was amazed he carried on after that!

Thank god.

Perhaps now a woman/person of colour/foreigner/Labour MP/Remainer might get the chance to finish a fucking sentence.

Or maybe, just maybe, a Brexiteer might find themselves pushed to answer a difficult question.

Yep not a day too soon. Totally agree with what CreakyBlinder said

Good to see you all agree with Jacob Rees Mogg that the BBC is bias.
When both sides of the political divide complain about bias they must be getting something right

Neither is he! (Paid £600k)

He voluntarily took a pay cut to bring his salary in line with Mishal Hussain, despite doing significantly more work (Today + Mastermind)

I agree that it is time for him to go, but if you're going to start a thread slagging someone off, you do need to get your facts straight. or at the very least his name

If this were a thread about a woman in the public eye, it would be zapped for Not Being In The Spirit.

I honestly think someone needs to put together a medley of JH's finest (not) partisan moments. Like recently when he asked the Irish minister why RoI didn't Irexit in order to solve the Brexit-Irish border problem.

Calling the idea of a People's Vote "ridiculous" is another low point.

Will Sweden have to learn German?

There was time where Humphrys quoted Boris Johnson's opinions, and the interviewee very confusedly said back "He's not in the UK government!?"

But we voted for it!

(TBF, JH was a bulldog to many). The bulldog style often led to politicians trying to screech soundbites between his digs so interviews ended with no real advance in understanding underlying issues. Waste of listening time.