The Today programme

[RuairiDonovan]

Has Today had its day? BBC’s flagship Radio 4 show grapples with podcast age
What do you think?

I know many have strong feelings, but I couldn't find an existing thread.

It had to end at some point. She’s back. 😡

I don’t like Barnett, she is an awful presenter who has ruined Today and I don’t want to hear about her bloody gynaecological problems. I turned the radio off this morning when I heard her ghastly voice.

I love Emma Barnett

I liked EB on Woman's Hour; Ireally don't like her on The Today Programme.
I like Amol Rajan and will miss him a lot. Agree with you @Geckolocation
Oh, and I love Justin Webb.

It feels like the Today Program and PM have been "democratized" as in, dumbed down.

They used to be great - more newsy and meatier interviews.

I do like Justin on Today, and Anna. Nick Robinson is also good in that I suppose he provides "balance" as a conservative, nut as someone said - why dot we know he is a conservative? I don't have a clue about Justin Webb's beliefs, he gives them all a fair shake.

If a politicians starts a filibuster I decide not to vote for them. Just bugger off the air if you are not going to engage.

Evan Davis is 'hail fellow, well met." A reasonable man. Incredibly annoying and superficial.

I really wish they would make those shows more substantive again.

I gave up on Today around about the time of Brexit, because it was so hung up on performative adversarialism and artificial notions of balance - at a time when we were crying out for actual investigative truth seeking.

I still hear snippets of it because DH is addicted. It still has the old Brexit era faults but on top of that it has added the extra annoyance of being a 'sofa show', with long mawkish 'human interest' interviews in place of proper news journalism.

They've absolutely trashed it.

Even a couple of years ago I would have defended the BBC against all comers. But it has become so degraded that I don't think we would lose anything if its enemies had their way and destroyed it. I guess that's because they have already cornered it into destroying itself.

Martha Kearney, Sarah Montague and Jim Naughtie are all so good, and everything you listen to the BBC for - great minds, good writing, up for a challenge.

Diamond's pussyfoot style annoys me so much I don't listen to The World at One on Fridays!

I seem to have lost interest in it. I like Justin and Anna, Nick is OK - I like him interviewing politicians.

I want to feel as if I've missed something if I don't listen and don't want the human interest sections or endless trailers.

This morning I wanted to do some cleaning and sorting in the bedroom but faced with Sideways, something 'lived experience' and Woman's Hour, I left it. I could have re-tuned the radio but it's one of those that doesn't take kindly to it.
Tomorrow doesn't look promising either (I should like the programme that's on at 9 but the presenter strikes me as sneering, as does the one from today's 9 am offering).

I gave up on Today around about the time of Brexit The Neverendum. I was sick of the constant 'you'd have to be stupid to vote Leave' narrative and it made me look into what it might mean to leave.

He's gone.

It's Norman Day. What the Normans did for us? makes me think of Tebbit, Fowler, Rogers, Wisdom...

I was sick to death of Norman Day by about 7.45am. 😡Turned the radio off at 9.am sharp. (I saw the Canterbury Embroidery in Normandy as a child and really don’t need to hear any more about it. Not my history and I Don’t Care.)

But in other news - did I really hear Amol Rajan call out ‘Loveday’ as one of his children’s names during his leaving monologue yesterday? It’s one of my favourite names in the entire history of time, and I’ve never encountered one outside The Chalet School. I was very thrilled!

I’m sorry to see Amol Rajan going. I liked his conversational interview style. I also like Nick’s grumpy, no nonsense style which is often needed with interviewees who try and filibuster. Justin Webb is calm and even-handed but the all out star ATM is undoubtedly Anna Foster. She’s got such a gentle tone but is absolutely firm on keeping interviewees on track. TBH I’m also an Emma Barnett fan though I find her a bit patchy and agree with others that she’s yet to reach her stride.

Ever since I heard that EB had complained about Nick R being “overbearing” I can’t stop hearing it! He definitely loves the sound of his own voice a bit too much, as evidenced by his recent appearance on a “Old Newscast” episode, and I can imagine him having rather a self inflated view of his place in the Today team. I imagine it’s very hard for someone new to slot in, let alone a woman.

Anna’s done a great job but notably she usually presents from Salford, and therefore doesn’t have to be in the same room as NR, unlike Emma.

I find Emma fine apart from the 'human interest' bits.
I like Nick Robinson but I don't think I'd like him as a person.
I find Anna and Justin calm and non-aggressive but good.

The varying pronunciation of Bayeux seemed distracting.
The Food Programme was good today.

I imagine it’s very hard for someone new to slot in, let alone a woman.
It was ever thus.

@TheFarriersDaughter
Yes I enjoyed the names too - I rewound to check my ears weren't deceiving me. Winston, Jamaica, Loveday and I think Nesta? Or was it Leicester? The MN baby name board would be in a tizzy, haha.

I usually only listen to 8-9am, did they interview any embroiderers/craftspeople about the not-a-tapestry? Couldn't really care less about what kids from Hastings think about it...

I loathed her on WH and now she is the same talking about her pet subjects mainly herself projected as a feminist, ha ha and her intense hate of our police force.
She reports on issues saying 50% of our country do not trust our police as she speaks for all women!
She clearly feels the past revelation by the police that she knew of her father's trafficking women and brothels calling the women whore's herself in emails to him interfered with her white washing of her past and personal aspirations.
Always ready to assassinate others especially our police who do a very difficult job but sadly many do not know thr real reason why.

Amol Rajan will be hugely missed.

I enjoyed this morning and I've got used to Emma Barnett. What her father did is not relevant to her skills as presenter of the Today programme.

Emma Barnett's leaving too. I was positive about her joining the roster of presenters but I ended up unconvinced that Today was a good fit for her.

I was pleased to hear about Amol Rajan leaving. Far too much matey bloke for my tastes and I'd spent a long time irritated by his enunciation.

I agree with you @nauticant . I do like EB, but it's not a good fit.
If I had to put my finger on it based on my emotions, she comes across a bit as 'Look at me, I am a woman, a mother, juggling my life'. (which she probably is, but YKWIM).

AR comes across as smug, ambitious and 'matey'.

JW and AW are a joy to listen to.
Abrasive as he might be, I like NR as an interviewer.

I liked Mishal Hussein. I like Sarah Montague on W@1.

I would quite like Katya Adler to join, but I do feel it would be a waste of her language and European reporting skills.

EB is leaving!

@Verbena91 , I think it is speculation and not a confirmed fact.

Probably should have said that it looks pretty much certain that she is leaving, but I think she knew all along it wasn't an ideal fit.
Rumour has it that she wanted more human interest content to the programme. I don't want that but appreciate that 3 hours is a long time to fill when there's not a lot of news but I listen to it for the news.