FORMER TODAY PRESENTER JOHN HUMPHRYS IN THE HOTSEAT BEFORE HIS APPEARANCE AT RICHMOND THEATRE
In 2019 John Humphrys left the Radio 4 Today programme after 32 years of forensically grilling figures in authority. As a presenter, he inspires love and loathing in equal measure.
The Observer’s television critic once wrote that if he ever found himself sitting next to Humphrys at a dinner party he would probably drive a fork through his hand.
The Tory politician Jonathan Aitken accused him of ‘poisoning the well of democratic debate’, a comment which prompted an outburst of support for Humphrys, with the Daily Mail describing him as ‘one of the most brilliant journalists in the country’.
This July, he returns – as opinionated as ever – for a new interactive show live at Richmond Theatre on the state of the BBC, the role of the media in politics and the health of our political system.
Here, Teddington Town had an exclusive opportunity to quiz the master of political interrogation, now, aged 82, and it’s true his answers were characteristically concise and to the point, leaving plenty of material for his big night at Richmond Theatre on July 14……..
1) Your big audience with is billed as the “terrier’ of Today – has the terrier been tamed? Are you a more mellow fellow?
God forbid! I am what I’ve always been
The political shenanigans of Westminster are as compelling as ever – do you still follow the twists and turns of the incumbent government?
Of course!
It seems that the great political beasts of the past like Heseltine, Howard, Tebbit, Blair, Brown, are not being replicated today – where are the great statesmen and women of today? And why are they not in Government?
No idea… but I would observe that their ‘greatness’ is usually not recognised until after they’ve left office.
Do you still listen to the Today programme, and if so, which politicians, if any, impress you with their authenticity and honesty and if you had the option – who would you most like to interview today?
Inevitably those who have long since left office: David Blunkett, Ken Clarke, William Hague etc
What’s prompted you to step back into the spotlight with your ‘audience with’ show at Richmond Theatre?
I wasn’t aware I’d ever left ‘the spotlight’… whatever that might mean!
You will have seen the devastating results of the local elections especially in Wales where Labour was wiped out by Plaid Cymru which won most seats in the Senedd after 100 years of Labour control. What was your reaction?
A sense of resignation!
You started out in your career on successful local newspapers and I’m sure you’ll be as sad as I am about their steady decline – how and where do you consume your news nowadays and do you think anything can be done to reverse the decline?
I don’t “consume” news god forbid! I read papers (always the Times and Guardian) and listen to Radio4
You worked with the BBC for the best part of 40 years and in recent years the organisation has been attacked for its journalism as well as significant controversy over the licence fee. You have been talked and written previously about broadening their recruiting policy to be less London-centric. How do you feel about the BBC and its role today?
Correction: I worked for the BBC for 51 years! Impossible to answer this in a few lines but I’ve written a book which deals with it in part: “A Day Like Today”
A shallow but predictable question – have you seriously considered or been offered the opportunity of joining the lineups of any reality TV shows like Strictly or Traitors? And why have you so far turned them down….?
I’ve never watched any of these shows and I don’t need/want the publicity so why would I appear on one. God forbid!!
We are currently in the midst of a massive debate on the future of the PM with calls for him to resign or set out a timetable to resign. You are well travelled down this road – how do you think it’s all going to end?
Ask me tomorrow!
Given the instability of the political leadership in the last decade and the apparent demise of the traditional two party system do you believe it’s time to change the system?
God forbid. It’s taken us a couple of centuries to reach this stage of the democratic journey and look at the mess we’re in. It’s true that the two-party system is deeply flawed but as somebody once said, it’s the worst system apart from all the others.
Who, in your view, are the great media inquisitors today?
Too many to list but Justin and Nick are great. And anyway it’s not exactly rocket science.