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AIBU?

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Original poster

To strongly dislike Amol Rajan as a presenter?

277 replies

rellies · 26/04/2023 09:10

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.

OP posts:
GirlySwot73 · 26/04/2023 10:46

He's bloody awful @rellies All the mumbling and trying to be cool, it's like fingernails down a blackboard to me. As for him taking over UC, my favourite program and in fact almost the only thing I get to watch on telly, aaaargh!

I like Justin Webb too @Davros especially his "Gooooooood morning!" before the pips.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 26/04/2023 10:56

I used to love PM when Eddie Mair presented it. Much missed. Ed Stourton is good.

sashagabadon · 26/04/2023 10:56

Neededanewuserhandle · 26/04/2023 09:26

YABU I love the sound of his voice and I don't think you should mistake his apparent casual style for being unprepared. His interview with Suella Braverman this morning was brilliant and really showed her up for the charlatan she is - he managed, without being discourteous, to illustrate clearly that she has no answers at all to any pertinent questions about her brief.

I do sympathise with not liking a particular presenter though - it's a very personal thing.

I listened to that too and thought the opposite! I thought he was badgering her too much and asking irrelevant questions. Of course the government have secret numbers expectations and have gamed scenarios. But they are not going to tell Amol on the today show. So ask things they will tell you!
but I do like him generally

TomatoSandwiches · 26/04/2023 10:59

I can't listen to him or watch him either, his voice irritates me to no end.

WhoppingBigBackside · 26/04/2023 12:27

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 26/04/2023 10:56

I used to love PM when Eddie Mair presented it. Much missed. Ed Stourton is good.

I agree.
Sue Montague is good on World at One, and Evan Davies on PM, better than they were on Today.
I like Nick Robinson and Justin Webb, but struggle to distinguish between Mishal Hussein and Martha Kearney - not sure why.

Edward Stourton was probably too pale and privileged for them.

Redebs · 26/04/2023 12:30

I think he's excellent.
Sounds so much more informed than Nick Robinson et al

Neededanewuserhandle · 26/04/2023 12:33

Abora · 26/04/2023 10:04

I don’t mind his style but I find his lack of enunciation means he is often difficult to understand. I find it great that the bbc now have a range of accents and not just RP, but the mumbling is unforgivable on the radio imo. Matters less on tv.

I don't find him hard to understand in the slightest.

Neededanewuserhandle · 26/04/2023 12:35

sashagabadon · 26/04/2023 10:56

I listened to that too and thought the opposite! I thought he was badgering her too much and asking irrelevant questions. Of course the government have secret numbers expectations and have gamed scenarios. But they are not going to tell Amol on the today show. So ask things they will tell you!
but I do like him generally

Show quote history

What's the point of asking only questions you know they'll answer?
Better to ask the important things we'd all like an answer to and at least attempt to hold them to account.

Neededanewuserhandle · 26/04/2023 12:36

WhoppingBigBackside · 26/04/2023 12:27

I agree.
Sue Montague is good on World at One, and Evan Davies on PM, better than they were on Today.
I like Nick Robinson and Justin Webb, but struggle to distinguish between Mishal Hussein and Martha Kearney - not sure why.

Edward Stourton was probably too pale and privileged for them.

Show quote history

Sarah Montague.

HolidaysSunnyDays · 26/04/2023 12:42

I can't stand the way he mumbles. Accents are wonderful, but this isn't accent. It's just lack of proper enunciation

phoneissue · 26/04/2023 12:44

I like Evan D but I do get annoyed when he dismisses women talking!!! It’s always often women he does that too.

love Sarah Montague, she’s perfect. Makes you sit up and listen.

Tim Harford - great voice - just a bit smug!

I rarely listen to Today it’s so miserable. I never used to think that yet there we are. I’ll listen out for Amol…

Persephoned · 26/04/2023 12:45

I really like him

WhoppingBigBackside · 26/04/2023 13:02

@Neededanewuserhandle , thanks. Don't know where the Sue came from!

WhoppingBigBackside · 26/04/2023 13:04

@phoneissue , I just find it a bit repetitive but it's on more as background noise unless there's something particularly of interest on it.

Original poster
rellies · 27/04/2023 07:00

HolidaysSunnyDays · 26/04/2023 12:42

I can't stand the way he mumbles. Accents are wonderful, but this isn't accent. It's just lack of proper enunciation

Agree with this!

OP posts:
lljkk · 27/04/2023 07:44

I like Rajan hugely. I hear him very clearly. His direct interviewing style is brilliant. If I had to choose a favourite single BBC presenter, Mishal Hussein is my nominee.

I have dyslexic hearing : Ok, I presume that's not a real thing, but I really do struggle to hear song lyrics, conversation in real life and on TV (even with volume on high), yet no issues hearing Rajan at all.

standoutfromthe · 27/04/2023 07:46

I love Amol. Loved him on The Media Show on R4 and wondered how his style would translate on Today but for me it works. To be fair I like all the presenters on the show and I listen every day.

I was devastated when Eddie Mair left PM but Evan has grown on me.

maranella · 27/04/2023 07:51

I can't stand him either @rellies. I always used to listen to R4 in the mornings, but if he's on I end up switching it off, because I can't stand him. Somehow he manages to be both arrogant and chippy, he doesn't know what he's talking about and his ill-informed and condescending manner is infuriating. And yes, he's on bloody everything! Why? I know a lot of people can't stand him, because I've had this conversation IRL too.

LizzieSiddal · 27/04/2023 08:00

Another one here who really admire and like him. Was very pleased to hear he’s got the UC job and can’t wait to watch him do the job.

Loria · 27/04/2023 08:00

Yabu. He's a KGB pr man turned client 'journalist' and he's frigging everywhere rn. Tries to sound like Luther with his mumbling swagger, but actually is a tit.

Loria · 27/04/2023 08:01

Oops sorry that should be yanbu

bridgetreilly · 27/04/2023 08:29

KGB??!

Yeah, right.

VimtoVimto · 27/04/2023 08:29

He’s growing on me, he really annoyed me to start with but now I don’t mind. My favourite presenter is Mishal Hussein, she is polite but attempts to hold politicians to account.

I miss Eddie Mair.

Loria · 27/04/2023 08:34

bridgetreilly · 27/04/2023 08:29

KGB??!

Yeah, right.

Yes, exactly. Lebedev, inheritor of a Russian oligarch fortune derived through his father's KBG status. Johnson gave him a knighthood, for services unclear. Rajan is his (former? - again unclear as no specific contract termination date) advisor and PR man, promoted to editor of the independent when lebedev bought a controlling interest in it.

Loria · 27/04/2023 08:37

Soz, not knighthood, peerage. Part of Johnson's moves to beef up the house of lords with sympathetic individuals.