What is this new Radio 4 presenter voice?

[Davespecifico]

I’ve noticed it with Cathy Fitzgerald on Moving Pictures and Josie Long on Short Cuts. I’ve also heard Grace Dent do it. It’s a kind of whispered, entranced earnestness, nice but too much of it is like eating too much rich food or too many sweets.

Is it a new thing, or is it just coincidental that they all have his voice?

I know exactly what you mean. Can't listen to Grace Dent for that reason. Her content is interesting but the delivery is too performative for me. I have only noticed it with her though.

I agree: too performative.

Yes. Women especially. It’s really annoying - like they are sitting next to your ear and whispering right into it. Ugh. Jenni Murray would never do that.

I miss Jenni Murray already. Going to miss Jane Garvey too. Nothing performative there.

I'd assumed it's their podcast voice. All the podcasts that get transferred to r4 seem to use exactly this sort of delivery.

It is extremely off-putting. No matter what the subject matter I can't help suspecting the presenters of extreme insincerity.

I’m ok with Josie Long doing it as she was the first person I heard and she sounds genuinely very, very happy. She actually has a voice that sounds like a smile.
I was a bit discombobulated by her not looking how I thought she would though, as in my mind she had Kate Tempest’s face and she actually looks nothing like I’d imagined.

I know this is an old post but i just wanted to add India Rakusen to that list of voices - she does the 'child' series on R4 which is very interesting but the delivery is so annoying I often avoid it. It seems to be an arty voice movement - i wonder what voice they use when they're really angry about something.