To strongly dislike Amol Rajan as a presenter?

[rellies]

He’s now a presenter of Today on Radio 4. I can’t stand him. He doesn’t talk clearly, he mumbles all the time. He often seems ill-prepared for interviews and conducts them in such a casual manner which I suspect is his way of dealing with his nerves/lack of preparation. In TV interviews he slouches in his seat which just looks so unprofessional. Now he’s got the University Challenge gig. Why do people keep hiring him ? I wish he would just go away.

I'm from South London and I find him hard to understand on UC! He gallops through the questions and pauses in the wrong places. He mumbles sometimes and swallows words. I wasn't a huge Paxo fan but at least I didn't have any problem with his reading of the questions.

Which, after all, is his number one job on there, before being 'empathetic'.

I agree that he doesn't articulate his words properly.... Doesn't finish them off properly....like a tired, lazy manner .... So irritating!

i now like him on university challenge, although the other week he did emulate jeremy paxman negatively!

He's the reason I've switched to the World Service. It's not his accent as such, more his appalling diction and obviously sloppy preparation. He wings it, and it shows.

He mispronounced farago the other day on Today. Yes, it has stuck in my mind because it stuck out! He used to mispronounce emeritus but eventually learned. I think there's an arrogance about winging it and it's not an attractive trait.

I'm no fan of his but this comment is extremely revealing.

Lots of people mispronounce words they only know from reading them. If they know the meaning and use the word correctly, the mispronunciation is clearly not a sign of stupidity or ignorance, rather the contrary.

Yes, referring to a man of South Asian heritage as Mr Bling is indeed revealing. Why shouldn't he wear gold jewellery if he wants to?

As for the restaurant critic thing, come on. Anybody who eats out and can string a sentence together could be a restaurant critic. Nobody trains for it.

PS It's farrago, not farago.

Not my choice for University Challenge, though I think he is doing a good job of it.

I think he is rubbish. Quite why he is where he is needs some explanation. I always end up thinking "is that the best the BBC can dredge up?"

Amol lives near me and we have kids the same age, so often in the same playground etc. Probably the most rude and unpleasant person I've ever met tbh.

wow

Thanks - the word always makes me think of Nigel Farage. Should have checked before posting.

He is a radio presenter on a major programme on a national station. Mispronunciation of well-known words and names should not happen. Occasional slip-ups will happen but he seems to do it quite often.

Sometimes the slip-ups are memorable or funny. James Naughtie's 'Jeremic Hunt' and Tomasz Schafernaker's 'boggy sh*te' are ones I'm glad I heard live.

I find him exceedingly annoying. I stopped listening to Radio 4's Today Programme when he started, and he was one of the reasons why I got rid of my TV and so no longer pay the TV License.
I now occasionally listen to the Today Programme but will switch over to another station the moment I hear Amol's voice. He always puts me in a bad mood. Today (07/3/24) , I heard him shouting his greeting 'HELLO!' Why must he shout? I turned it over immediately. (I agree that hearing different dialects and accents is great but hearing Amol's voice just infuriates me).
Sadly, I heard that Martha will soon be leaving Today. If Amol is her replacement, then I will not listen to Radio 4 again.
Mishal Hussain, Justin Webb and Martha are my favourite Today Presenters. They are consummate professionals.

He cocked up today with the expected report, fortunately Martha was they to correct things. Justin and Mishal are my favourite presenters. I suppose there will be another presenter to replace Martha when she leaves.

Isn’t Emma Barnett being lined up for the job?

I hope not! The stand ins they have like Simon Jack are better than her. She's monotone and agressive

I think Emma Barnett has a finger on the mood and would replace Martha well (although (I'm not a fan of her voice). I like Simon Jack and Chris Mason has to be in the frame too. Amol Rajan's own programmes like Re-Thinking have been radio standouts. I like Justin Webb and can tolerate Nick Robinson... his interviewing has improved massively. In fact, I sort of trust the R4 team to deliver a good choice for the next Today presenter. Unless they think that yoof is a qualification.

Sadly, I heard that Martha will soon be leaving Today. If Amol is her replacement, then I will not listen to Radio 4 again.

I don't understand this. Amol Rajan has been presenting the Today programme for ages and ages.

Not yet a done deal for Emma Barnett to replace Martha, it seems, but near enough. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/feb/27/emma-barnett-tipped-for-today-presenter-job-after-martha-kearney-steps-down I'd be very pleased. She's a good interviewer.

I like EB on WH. I agree with @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g re Amol Rajan has been presenting the Today programme for ages and ages.

I definitely think he’s a good communicator and has empathy. I don’t think he has a traditional delivery style but is a breath of fresh air. I agree with @Aishah231

I completely disagree with this. I don't like him but I can tolerate him.

I think Amol has either calmed down a bit or I’ve got used to his presenting style as I don’t find his presenting style as excitable as I did.