Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Willmafrockfit · 17/07/2023 20:51

Faisal Islam also difficult to understand i agree - shame

SpanadorFanador · 17/07/2023 20:52

I like Amol Rajan. I don’t find him mumbly, and he manages to be persistent but polite.

Justin Webb seems popular, but I find him a bit spiky at times.

My favourite mornings feature a Michal/ Martha double bill, although Nick Robinson is a close runner up.

Obviously Eddie Mair on PM was the best ever.

I also like Evan Davis a lot, mostly when he mentions Mr Whippy.

TheaBrandt · 17/07/2023 20:52

I dont like him hes done too many of those comedy things so never know whether he's taking the piss.

lomanajar · 17/07/2023 20:57

Name changed.

I worked with him when he was Editor of The Independent newspaper.

He's actually a really lovely guy. He's kind, charming, friendly and considerate.

That's not something you can often say about an Editor!

MandyMotherOfBrian · 17/07/2023 21:01

ExtraOnions · 17/07/2023 20:14

He’s as thick as mince, if anyone saw him on House of Games knows. He’s a BBC golden boy, so been given University Challenge to spoil, he is nowhere near the intellect of Paxman, so won’t be able to roll his eyes as much

How are you judging their respective ‘intellect’?
If it’s on House of Games, then…

ginghamstarfish · 17/07/2023 21:05

Can't bear to hear him, and don't listen to Today any more since he joined. Won't be watching UC either. He's such a smug git, and clearly has a very high opinion of himself, but doesn't speak well or clearly enough to do any of these jobs. JP had at least put in the years of serious journalism, but this guy? Recently saw a photo of him, and yes the smugness ... yuk. WTF is wrong with the BBC? You'd think that speaking clearly and intelligibly would be a prerequisite for this 'work' ( ie reading someone else's words off a screen).

MIBnightmare · 17/07/2023 21:06

lomanajar · 17/07/2023 20:57

Name changed.

I worked with him when he was Editor of The Independent newspaper.

He's actually a really lovely guy. He's kind, charming, friendly and considerate.

That's not something you can often say about an Editor!

I have listened to the today programme religiously since the fabulous Brian redhead was a presenter . and then the equally fabulous John Humphries .. (who Amol reminds me of)

I think he is totally fab

Redbone · 17/07/2023 21:07

YANBU I find him really difficult to understand as he talks so quickly and he has a strange intonation. Sadly I will not be watching UC again . Agree that JP should have gone a long time ago though.

larkstar · 17/07/2023 21:09

Samira Ahmed or the most beautifully spoken Yogita Limaye would have been far better IMHO.

MIBnightmare · 17/07/2023 21:09

SpanadorFanador · 17/07/2023 20:52

I like Amol Rajan. I don’t find him mumbly, and he manages to be persistent but polite.

Justin Webb seems popular, but I find him a bit spiky at times.

My favourite mornings feature a Michal/ Martha double bill, although Nick Robinson is a close runner up.

Obviously Eddie Mair on PM was the best ever.

I also like Evan Davis a lot, mostly when he mentions Mr Whippy.

Evan Davies .. ❤️❤️❤️ only
Ursurped by the beyond compare..Eddy Mair ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Butteredtoast55 · 17/07/2023 21:10

@larkstar I agree. It's such a missed opportunity not to have Samira Ahmed hosting UC

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/07/2023 21:12

I thought he did an excellent job presenting this first episode of the new series of UC. Very noticeable now (sadly, and entirely understandably) that in the last few years Jeremy Paxman just hasn't been able to rattle off the questions at speed as he used to, and which Amol Rajan managed tonight. Enunciation fine, manner friendly but firm. Good job. I am reassured.

Didn't like the new set at all, but I suppose I'll get used to it.

EmmaPaella · 17/07/2023 21:15

I like him.

I like Evan too, but not as much as Eddie Mair.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 17/07/2023 21:16

@lomanajar

That’s nice to read.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/07/2023 21:20

I've gone right off Evan Davis because he seems unable to grasp that there might be any problems with gender ideology.

EsmaCannonball · 17/07/2023 21:27

Samira Ahmed would have been a much better fit for University Challenge. Amol Rajan wasn't quite so bad as I'd feared (although I'd feared quite a bit) but it's a programme where the host really needs perfect diction. I was struggling to hear the questions in the last few minutes.

Spanielsarepainless · 17/07/2023 21:29

I thought he was OK presenting University Challenge this evening. Except he said 'haitch' instead of 'aitch' which made me gnash my teeth. He rattled the pace along very well.

Greyandwhitecat · 17/07/2023 21:40

I’ve disliked him since the utterly inane interview he did with Greta Thunberg on the BBC - his questions were so ill informed and unintelligent. He kept trying to catch her out to get a headline but she was way too smart for him.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/07/2023 21:45

Spanielsarepainless · 17/07/2023 21:29

I thought he was OK presenting University Challenge this evening. Except he said 'haitch' instead of 'aitch' which made me gnash my teeth. He rattled the pace along very well.

A perfectly normal dialect feature for a large chunk of the population of the British Isles. Good on him for sticking to his roots.

julylover · 17/07/2023 21:46

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/07/2023 21:45

A perfectly normal dialect feature for a large chunk of the population of the British Isles. Good on him for sticking to his roots.

Show quote history

This. So many snobbish comments on this (actually rather horrible) thread!

Bookist · 17/07/2023 21:48

I don't think I have ever watched him on TV without him crow barring that he went to Oxford into the conversation.

FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar · 17/07/2023 21:53

I was distracted by his gold jewellery and gold watch.
Think he did a good job on UC.

Icanttellyouanything · 17/07/2023 22:03

University Challenge need to buy him a smaller desk, it's too big and made me wonder if his feet reached the floor. Dp suggested a booster cushion and to be fair it would be cheaper than a whole new desk.

Louloulouenna · 17/07/2023 22:08

Very much dislike his mumbling on the Today programme and find his casual tone very off putting - sounds unprepared and dismissive.

Guiltridden12345 · 17/07/2023 22:10

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.

We love him. He’s incredibly clever and a brilliant interviewer. He sounds very normal, and I like his chatty relaxed approach. It belies the razor like intellect that sits behind it and he always gets his story.